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THE LAST STRAW
PLASTIC:
Research
NEW AND EMERGING
HEAR IT FROM THE EXPERTS
Hear directly from the experts and organisations who are actively working in the field of plastics pollution, right now. They’ll be explaining their research, outlining the crucial work being done and pointing out the gaps in our current approach to managing plastic.
Future
THE WAY FORWARD
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Not only will you learn just what the issue with plastic actually is, but you’ll also learn what can be done about it. From volunteering to research participation all the way through to national bans and government policy, we’ll be figuring out the role of the individual as well as the responsibility of governments and businesses.
Each episode of our four-episode mini-series will approach plastics from a new and interesting angle. We’ll be uncovering its impact on the environment and human health as well as its history and what the implications are for us as a species, if we don’t take action.
A FOUR-EPISODE MINI-SERIES
RELEASED MONTHLY
Episodes
THE LAST STRAW
PLASTIC:
Research
NEW AND EMERGING
HEAR IT FROM THE EXPERTS
Hear directly from the experts and organisations who are actively working in the field of plastics pollution, right now. They’ll be explaining their research, outlining the crucial work being done and pointing out the gaps in our current approach to managing plastic.
Future
THE WAY FORWARD
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
Not only will you learn just what the issue with plastic actually is, but you’ll also learn what can be done about it. From volunteering to research participation all the way through to national bans and government policy, we’ll be figuring out the role of the individual as well as the responsibility of governments and businesses.
Each episode of our four-episode mini-series will approach plastics from a new and interesting angle. We’ll be uncovering its impact on the environment and human health as well as its history and what the implications are for us as a species, if we don’t take action.
A FOUR-EPISODE MINI-SERIES
RELEASED MONTHLY
Episodes
TuneFM and UNE Life release a must-listen, educational podcast
TuneFM has brought its unique style of storytelling to audiences’ ears with a brand-new educational podcast. Whether you already have an established interest in plastic pollution, are curious to learn about it or aren’t yet sure if it’s an issue worthy of your attention, the Plastic: The Last Straw podcast is for you.
The podcast shares fascinating research from around the world, with a special focus on Australia, in a way that’s accessible to everyone. Every episode is informed by experts, innovators and campaigners who have first-hand experiences and understandings of the field.
Plastic: The Last Straw has been created in partnership with The NSW Environment Protection Authority and will be available as a four-part mini-series in monthly instalments via all major streaming sites, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Each episode is themed around a core topic- from the environment to human health- which our narrator explores by interweaving the first-hand accounts of our expert speakers with current research and statistics.
Tania Court, the Student Experience Manager at UNE Life, said “We’re proud to launch a brand-new podcast featuring experts from the UNE community and beyond. Each episode brings in the leading voices from a range of topics related to plastic pollution and offers an exciting perspective. We hope that Plastic: The Last Straw will not only inform people but also encourage them to follow the EPA plastic bans and support researchers and innovators who are trying to find solutions to plastic pollution.”
Plastic: The Last Straw launched on the 23rd of September and the first two episodes are available for streaming.
Plastic: The Last Straw was created by TuneFM and UNE Life as part of the EPA’s sustainability partnerships program. It is a TuneFM production. The producer was Sianna Madigan.
For more information contact Sianna Madigan, smadiga3@une.edu.au
Episode 1
THE PLASTIC AGE
In this episode, prepare to enter the plastic age with us, as we hear from UNE’s Dr Martin Gibbs, Siobhan Threlfall from Ocean Watch and UNE’s Dr Susan Wilson. We’ll be setting the scene as we learn about the history of plastic, what it actually is, why it’s such an issue and what we should be doing about it.
This episode is created in partnership with the state NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of their sustainability partnerships program.
To find out more, visit the EPA website
Find out more about the EPA
Dr Susan Wilson
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Dr Susan Wilson is an associate professor in Environmental Pollution at The University of New England. Dr Wilson also leads the Pollution Science Research Group in the School of Environmental and Rural Science. The group has a special focus on pollutants in soils: their processing and cycling, interactions, their effects, managing risks and remediation, with a specific interest in comparative arsenic and antimony ecotoxic effects and biogeochemistry.
To find out more about their important work, check out their
Website
Read more about Dr Susan Wilson here
Dr Martin Gibbs
PROFESSOR OF AUSTRALIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
Dr Martin Gibbs is a Professor of Australian Archaeology at The University of New England. His current major project is 'Landscapes of Production and Punishment', exploring the industrial aspects of the convict system as it operated in the Australian colonies.
To view Dr Gibbs’ research and publications, you can look
here
Read more about Dr Martin Gibbs here
Siobhan Threlfall
PROJECTS OFFICER AT OCEANWATCH AUSTRALIA
Siobhan Threlfall is a Projects Officer at Oceanwatch Australia. OceanWatch Australia is a national not-for-profit environmental company that works to advance sustainability in the Australian seafood industry and operates community-based coastal habitat restoration programs. They aim to improve environmental practices, protect marine species, reduce by-catch, introduce sustainable technologies, change behaviours, and restore marine habitats.
To learn more, check out their
website
Read more about Oceanwatch Australia here
Episode 2
PLASTIC VS THE PLANET
In episode two we're giving you a front-row seat in the battle of plastic vs the planet, as we hear from experts from Flinders University, OceanWatch Australia and The University of New England about how Australia's unique environment is faring in the fight against plastic pollution.
This episode is created in partnership with the state NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of their sustainability partnerships program.
To find out more, visit the EPA website
Find out more about the EPA
Nicola Forster
PhD CANDIDATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
Nicola Forster is a PhD candidate at The University of New England and was awarded a research grant by SETAC, for her research into microplastics.
You can the studies she has published here:
Follow her on twitter: @NicolaA_Forster
Study 1
Study 2
Janet Klein
HONOURS STUDENT FROM FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Janet Klein is an honours student from Flinders University in South Australia and is a current PhD candidate at The University of Adelaide. Outside of academia, Janet has worked extensively in biodiversity conservation and regenerative agriculture as a co-founder of Hills Biodiversity, a board member of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board and the Director of Ngeringa Vineyard.
You can read her study about microplastics here:
Follow her on Instagram: @hillsbiodiversity and @ngeringa
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HFLandscapeSA
Read her study
Episode 3
PLASTIC PEOPLE
In episode three we’re holding the magnifying glass over ourselves, as we learn about the consequences of plastic pollution on human health. Join us, as we hear from Dr Michaela Lucas from the University of Western Australia about her ongoing clinical trial, and from Associate Professor Amy Lykins, about ‘eco-anxiety’ and the impact of global, ecological issues on mental health.
This episode is created in partnership with the state NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of their sustainability partnerships program.
To find out more, visit the EPA website
Find out more about the EPA
Dr Susan Wilson
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Dr Susan Wilson is an associate professor in Environmental Pollution at The University of New England. Dr Wilson also leads the Pollution Science Research Group in the School of Environmental and Rural Science. The group has a special focus on pollutants in soils: their processing and cycling, interactions, their effects, managing risks and remediation, with a specific interest in comparative arsenic and antimony ecotoxic effects and biogeochemistry.
To find out more about their important work, check out their
website
Read more about Dr Susan Wilson here
Dr Michaela Lucas
CLINICAL PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Dr Michaela Lucas is a Clinical Professor at the University of Western Australia. Dr Lucas is currently working as the Principal Investigator for the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) Trial, where she is leading a team of scientists, clinicians and dieticians who are exploring the effect of plastic-related chemicals on human health.
To find out more information about the PERTH trial, visit their
Read her previous study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35034036/
website
Amy Lykins
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY AT UNE.
Amy Lykins is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at UNE. Associate Professor Lykins is interested in climate change, natural hazards and the environmental, health, and moral issues related to meat eating and associated intensive farming practices, among others. She is currently supervising Ph.D, M.Psych (clin) and honours research projects on the topics of climate change, natural hazards and mental health, pro-environmental behaviours related to food and the effects of eco-anxiety on family planning.
Find out more about Amy here
Episode 4
THE LAST STRAW
In the final episode of this series, we’re hearing from 2023 NSW Young Australian of the Year recipient, Lottie Dalziel. Lottie is the founder of the educational community/platform, Banish, and is on a mission to make Australia more sustainable.
Follow Lottie on Instagram @banish.au and @lottiedl
Listen to the How to Save Our Planet podcast at
Check out the Banish website at
www.banish.com.au
or Google podcasts.
Apple,
Spotify
