ASURF Spotlight Series

Meet Minoli

Baseline Microplastic Analysis in Remote Freshwater Lake Sediments at the Experimental Lakes Area

Honours Thesis

 
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Introducing: Minoli Dias


The purpose of our study was to contribute to better understanding the sources and pathways of microplastics to freshwater sediments. Accordingly, we sampled sediments in six remote lakes in the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA)—a limnological field station in Northern Ontario.

Receiving funding through the ASURF grant enabled me to attend the SETAC North America Conference. Becoming a member for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and attending the conference allowed for the work completed in my undergraduate thesis to be communicated to scientists and peers in the environmental science field.

Although the costs associated with attending the conference, such as registration fees, travel and accommodations are not directly related to performing the research project, presenting at the conference is an important contribution to the science communication element of my project which is a crucial step in the research process. 

This experience offered me the opportunity to communicate my findings to peers in environmental toxicology and environmental scientists.