Success at the double – University's two wins at 2024 Green Gown Awards

The awards acknowledge our world-leading microplastics research and work to educate young people about the environment
Green Gown Awards 2024 winner
The University of Plymouth has won two Green Gown Awards in recognition of its long-held commitment to sustainability research, education and action.
In the Research with Impact – Institution category, the University’s success acknowledged more than two decades of ground-breaking research into microplastics and other forms of marine litter carried out by the International Marine Litter Research Unit .
In the Sustainability Champion – Student category, Environmental Science graduate Hayley Hill was rewarded for her work to inspire young people to learn more about climate change and the roles they can play in helping to tackle it.
The winners were announced during a ceremony at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, where one of the University’s academic partners – South Devon College – also earned the Sustainability Institution of the Year award.

We are internationally renowned for our sustainability research and education, and being recognised with these Green Gown Awards is wonderful news for everyone connected to the University.

Richard DaviesProfessor Richard Davies
Vice-Chancellor

 

Sources, effects, solutions – alerting the world to microplastics

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the first published study to highlight the widescale distribution and long-term accumulation of microplastics in the global ocean.
Led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS , the seminal paper in Science sparked a whole new area of academic research which has – to this point – been followed by an estimated 7,000 peer-reviewed publications on the topic.
Amid this growing global interest, the University – through the work of its International Marine Litter Research Unit – remains at the forefront of the field.
In addition to establishing the sources and effects of microplastic pollution, its scientists work with partners across academia, industry, policy and the media to present the pressing need for action, and develop and evaluate emerging solutions.
This whole-system approach has inspired individual and collective action at a local, national and international level, while researchers continue to push for robust scientific evidence to be a key consideration for an effective Global Plastics Treaty.
The work has also earned numerous accolades, with the University being awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2019 and Professor Thompson being jointly awarded the Volvo Environment Prize in 2022, and the Blue Planet Prize in 2023.
Professor Richard Thompson (centre) receives the Research with Impact prize at the 2024 Green Gown Awards
Professor Richard Thompson (centre) receives the Research with Impact prize at the 2024 Green Gown Awards

It was fantastic just to be shortlisted for the Green Gowns research impact award, and amazing that our microplastics research was outright winner.

This is a massive acknowledgment for 20 years of hard work by the team at the University of Plymouth, and our many collaborators around the world. We now need to ensure that the scientific evidence we have all worked to generate brings about the urgent change promised via the Global Plastic Treaty.

Richard Thompson OBE FRSProfessor Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit

This was an impressive and very well documented real-world example of research with impact. This significant and world leading research on microplastics has implications and solutions for human life and health, together with great influence in policy and creating awareness.

Green Gown Awards judges
 

Championing climate awareness through school workshops

Environmental issues affect every aspect of life on Earth, and younger children will experience their impacts longer than most.
With that in mind, Environmental Science graduate Hayley Hill conceived a project as part of her degree to identify how best to engage primary school children with environmental issues.
After developing a plan with her project supervisor Dr Alison Stokes , Associate Professor in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Hayley worked with an established extracurricular eco club at a school in South East Cornwall.
Published in The Plymouth Student Scientist journal in December 2023, her project report includes evidence of such clubs being an excellent way to foster interest in environmental issues, in addition to recommendations for schools and teachers.
The initial project involved a small group of children from one school, but – now working as an Education Coordinator for Cornwall Climate Care – Hayley has used her experiences to create and run free workshops across Cornwall and Devon.
To date, these have been delivered to well over 4,000 primary and secondary school pupils, engaging them with some of the key challenges facing our planet and highlighting their role in helping address them.
Hayley Hill (centre) receives the Sustainability Champion - Student prize at the 2024 Green Gown Awards
Hayley Hill (centre) receives the Sustainability Champion - Student prize at the 2024 Green Gown Awards

I am absolutely delighted, and more than a little surprised, to have won the Green Gown Sustainability Champion – Student award.

The other finalists represented some incredible projects that showcase just how much people are doing across the country to highlight and tackle environmental issues. I am honoured and incredibly proud to be part of such an inspiring group of people.
Hayley Hill
 Environmental Science graduate

An insightful project that has significant potential to shape the future by sparking curiosity and creativity in children. The work carried out by Hayley is based on clear and purposeful research into clear communication and active engagement. Overall, the project is a fascinating demonstration of wider societal benefit and reach.

Green Gown Awards judges
 

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