Project was completed in June 2025.
Please note: staff member Brigette Walsh departed in 2025 and so some salary funds were not used.
Final Progress Summary
In Fall 2024, the project team lead outreach programming for 33 students in collaboration with teachers and classes in two (2) separate school districts and high schools. PI Pacht, in coordination with Co-PIs Baki and Kavanagh, led the in-class presentations for all students, wherein the microplastic pollution issue was described, research objectives and progress were summarized, and field work methods are described in detail. PI Pacht trained 2 young professional interns and engaged them to assist with the project over the course of six weeks. Three field research trips were made, one to each of the primary data collection sites: Hopewell Recreation Beach, Doug Philips Park, and Sarah Taylor Park.
In winter 2025, PI Pacht and PI Walsh transmitted collected samples to Potsdam for processing by the lab team of Co-PI Baki, and coordinated with partners to schedule outreach for further student and public participatory involvement to take place and complete project deliverables in Spring 2025.
In Spring 2025, the team proceeded to carry out additional participatory science programs for high school students and public volunteer groups from April-June on Fishkill Creek. Dr. Baki and his graduate student lab assistants processed all samples sent through May 1, 2025 by June 30, 2025 (see preliminary data at bottom). Other samples will be processed in summer 2025.
OUTREACH:
Highlights (Sept 2024-June 2025):
• Total High School In-Class Presentations and Field Science Trips: 8
• Total Students engaged in classroom training for field science: 52
• Total Students engaged in hands-on field science: 40
• Workforce development:
• Young Professional Interns trained: 2
• Public volunteer participants: 6
• Hours: 208 hours of training and program leadership
• Total Fieldwork Participants – data collection on Fishkill Creek:
49 (including teachers, students, public volunteers)
Please refer to the June 2025 emailed progress and cost share reports for more information, photos and results.