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Saturday 17 March 2018

Exeter University launches crowdfunding campaign to fund eXXpedition North Pacific 2018 and other research into plastics in the oceans

The University of Exeter is at the forefront of research into plastic
Ocean Plastic | Grand Challenges | University of Exeter
Exeter research influences Government blueprint for environment | Exeposé Online
Sustainable Futures | MTEH | University of Exeter

The latest is a trip to the North Pacific:

Exeter crew to sail the pacific on plastics research mission

The crew will travel over 3,000 miles on a 72ft scientific exploration vessel


Josh Herbert 14:03, 16 MAR 2018


Emily Duncan will lead the team (Image: Steve Greenwood)

An all-female crew including sailors, scientists and film-makers will cross the north Pacific later this year to study plastic pollution.

The team set up by ‘eXXpedition’ will set off on June 23 on a five-week trip across the North Pacific Gyre – better known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch because of the plastic that gathers there – from Hawaii to Seattle.

The crew will be sailing Sea Dragon, a 72ft scientific exploration vessel (owned by Pangaea Exploration) from Oahu, Hawaii to Vancouver, British Columbia and then from Vancouver to Seattle.

The eXXpedition voyage team is a diverse and international group of 24 women, split over two voyage legs, travelling over 3,000 nautical miles through the densest ocean plastic accumulation zone on the planet.



They will focus on micro-plastics and links to environmental and human health.

The team will be led by British skipper and ocean advocate Emily Penn, and the head of science will be Emily Duncan, a PhD researcher at the University of Exeter.

Emily Penn, co-founder of eXXpedition, which specialises in all-women sailing expeditions, said: “eXXpedition is a radical mix of adventure, science, advocacy and action to help understand the nature of a complex problem; the contamination of our bodies and our seas.”

“We hope our journey from the tropical islands of Hawaii to the wild coastlines of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest will contribute to important scientific studies while inspiring action to protect these great places of outstanding natural beauty and importance.”

Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment, said: “Such front-line support for our #CleanSeas campaign will help get the message further out.”

The university is about to launch a crowdfunding campaign, where the contributions will help fund projects including eXXpedition North Pacific 2018 and other research into plastics in the oceans. For more information, check out the crowdfunding page or follow @Exalumni on Twitter.

All other costs are covered by crew contributions and mission sponsors which to date include The Copernicus Marine Service, Mercator Ocean, Princess Yachts, Hawk Yachts, ​Daedalus Yachts, Y.CO, Iridium and Finisterre.


Exeter crew to sail the pacific on plastics research mission - Devon Live
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