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- Title
Microplastics Are All Around Us: An Engaging Activity for Undergraduate Biology Majors.
- Authors
Unger, Shem D.; Rollins, Mark
- Abstract
When teaching undergraduate biology courses, developing engaging activities which allow students to learn using a hands-on pedagogy can provide impactful learning moments for students. This activity helps students make connections between lecture content on environmental issues, e.g., the use of microplastics (MPs) and their own day-to-day activities by learning whether or not the products they use regularly contain microplastics or skeptical microplastics. Using a smartphone app (Beat the MicroBead) and personal care products, students quantify the type and number of potential microplastics and complete a post-activity survey. Overall, students found the activity engaging, fun, and informative. Students also report on not realizing the products they frequently use may contain plastics, with the majority finding various forms of microplastics or skeptical microplastics. Students identified Dimethicone, Carbomer, and Acrylates Copolymer as the most abundant MPs, and Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, and Ceteareth-20, as the most abundant skeptical MPs present in their personal care and cosmetic products. Students found on average at least 4/10 and 5/10 products containing MPs or skeptical MPs, respectively, with most students responding they had not heard of MPs before this activity. This activity can be incorporated into any college biology or environmental biology course.
- Subjects
HYGIENE products; MICROPLASTICS; MOBILE apps; ACRYLATES; MICROBEADS; PLASTIC marine debris
- Publication
Bioscene, 2023, Vol 49, Issue 2, p3
- ISSN
1539-2422
- Publication type
Article