BBC News broadcasts live from the University of Plymouth's Marine Station

Presenter Sophie Raworth interviewed world-leading researchers on their work on tyre particle pollution
Sophie Raworth from BBC News broadcasting from Marine Station balcony
The BBC News at Six and Ten bulletins were broadcast live from the University of Plymouth’s Marine Station last night (Wednesday 20 September).
Presenter Sophie Raworth also visited the University last week to interview Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS and Florence Parker-Jurd about new research into tyre particle pollution , including taking a trip up the Tamar to sample mud from the river bed.
In addition to presenting live from the covered terrace overlooking Plymouth’s historic Barbican, Sophie was interviewed for BBC Spotlight.

We’re taking the news bulletins out and about – which we do from time to time, across the nations and regions, right around the UK – and I’m delighted that our latest travels have brought us to the University of Plymouth. I’ve been so lucky to get on a research boat with Professor Thompson, the ‘Godfather of Microplastics’ and find out more about the extraordinary research he and his team are working on. It’s an important and surprising story.

Sophie Raworth, BBC Presenter
Marine Station with BBC broadcasting live
BBC presenter Sophie Raworth broadcasting live from the Marine Station

We’ve been thrilled to work with the BBC on this incredible opportunity to showcase some of the world-leading research that goes on here in Plymouth and I am grateful to everyone involved in making this happen.

In a year where the University has been verified as carbon neutral and Richard has won a major international award for the decades of groundbreaking research he has conducted here, this is a perfect moment to reach a significant audience with news of our latest achievements and ongoing work to promote sustainability and protect our precious natural environment.

Judith Petts DBEProfessor Dame Judith Petts DBE
Emeritus Professor

Watch the BBC News at Ten

Link expires 22:32 on Thursday 21 September
BBC Economics Editor Faisal Islam broadcasting from the Marine Station
BBC broadcasting live from the Marine Station

  • Professor Richard Thompson and Sophie Raworth

  • Collecting sediment from the riverbed by the Tamar Bridge

  • Sophie Raworth, Professor Richard Thompson and Florence Parker-Jurd

Tyre wear concept. Old car bald tyre with very little tread remaining.

International Marine Litter Research Unit

Marine litter is a global environmental problem with items of debris now contaminating habitats from the poles to the equator, from the sea surface to the deep sea.
Furthering our understanding of litter on the environment and defining solutions.
Marine litter