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An Illustrated Review of Plastic Pollution

July 22, 2021 by Nicolle Fuller Leave a Comment

Visually Communicating the Plastic Pollution Problem

How do we reduce plastic? I’ve been thinking about it a lot; how my own personal choices intersect with the illustrations I’ve created for leading ecologists studying plastics in our environment. In our illustrated review of plastic pollution, I share what leading scientists are doing to combat the problem, with some thoughts on how all of us can try to help.

Yesterday my kid asked me for a straw. Not to drink with, but to use for their balloon-powered car STEM craft. After scrounging in drawers and bins, I handed them one of the steel straws that has sat there unused for years. After the metal straw’s weight collapsed the cardboard wheels, I renewed my efforts and managed to find an old bag of the elusive plastic tubes hiding beneath our beeswax cloth wrap and silicone bags.

Why Stress Over Straws?

Ocean Pollution Ecosystem Science Illustration of plastic pollution by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio
Picture our oceans in 30 years. What do you see? This Oceans in 2050 illustration shows 2 starkly different visions: plastic/air pollution, collapsed fisheries, deep-sea oil drilling/mining; vs. healthy marine ecosystems thriving alongside clean energy, sustainable aquaculture, and responsible shipping. Created by ©Nicolle R.Fuller, SayoStudio, for Doug J. McCauley at Benioff Ocean Initiative, UC Santa Barbara.

The balloon-cardboard car worked, and I had a happy kid. But… it gave me pause. Really, what difference can straws make? Are my efforts making a difference? We’re surrounded by plastic. We wear ‘high-tech’ wicking clothing that releases microparticles in the wash (NY Times article on microplastics from clothing). Even though we try, so much of our food is swathed in bundles of plastic. It just feels… daunting.

But then I think about the consequences, and even if what we’re doing isn’t enough, trying has to be better than giving up.

Plastic Pollution Data Visualization

Like many modern problems, it’s easy to think that the fault lies with someone else. Looking at recent data of global pollution patterns, we see that the most plastic pollution comes from India, China and Southeast Asia. When we fall into that trap, it can be all too easy to not take responsibility. If we look at plastic generation per person, the United States far outpaces other countries. (please note, the time difference between global waste and per person is 10 years).


global plastic production graph to illustrate plastic pollution problem



Drawing for Scientists Searching for Solutions to Plastic Pollution

science cover art of plastic pollution sensor network by Nicolle Fuller SayoStudio.

For several years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with scientists who study the plastic problem. They’re searching for large-scale societal solutions. Michael Bank, for whom we created an Environmental Science & Technology journal cover art on global plastic pollution, studies microplastics’ impacts across ecosystems. He’s proposed a worldwide sensor monitoring system to better gauge and track where pollution comes from. Hopefully, this will help stop the pollution at its source.

Another leading ocean ecologist, Dr. Douglas McCauley, is doing just that— figuring out how to stop plastics at their source (or at least closer to it). He and the Benioff Institute are studying river clean-up technology to stop pollution before it enters our oceans. Read more about their our work with them in this illutsrated case study about the Ocean Futures epic visual.

plastic capture technology to clean rivers, illustration ©Nicolle R. Fuller
This illustration of plastic pollution shows different technologies being developed to capture plastic before it reaches the ocean.

I’m so honored to help these ecologists communicate their science. For them, and for my kids who are growing up in this world, I’ll keep doing what I can. To start, I ask you all to do the same. Think about how you can make small changes in your daily lives. Here in our house we’ll keep using reusable water bottles and bags and try to reduce the food we buy in plastic (argh, but chips!?). Here is a great resource to get started on reducing your plastic use, and here are some great tips on what and how you can recycle. Thank you for reading our illustrated review of plastic pollution!


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Related posts:

  1. 10 Best Science Illustrations of 2021
  2. Earth Day Graphics
  3. Higgs boson
  4. Small Kids, Small Business, and Holding it All Together

ecology,  Science,  Science Illustration,  Scientist Feature ecologist communication,  editorial science art,  environmental artist,  environmental nonprofit,  ocean ecology,  ocean ecology graphic,  ocean ecology illustration,  ocean mural,  plastic infographic,  plastic pollution,  science communication,  science illustration,  scientist graphics,  scientist visuals,  sustainability graphic

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The Cancer Discovery Journal Collection was provid The Cancer Discovery Journal Collection was provided to the attendees of the @aacr_foundation's Annual Meeting this April. The KRAS gene, commonly mutated in cancer, was highlighted in this collection. 

Art for the Cancer Discovery Journal Collection by Claire Agosti, SayoStudio.
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#cancerdiscovery #aacr #americanassociationofcancerresearch #medicalart #medicalillustration #sciart #scicomm #scienceillustration #art #digitalart #kras #krasmutation #genetherapy #sciencecommunication
Did you know scientists sometimes test the Standar Did you know scientists sometimes test the Standard Model of physics using lasers? âš¡

In 2014, scientists at harvard zapped molecules with a laser and observed the way light reacted afterwards. It was thought that heavy particles would be surrounding the electrons, however none were observed. 

The experiment leads researchers to other avenues to explore the presence of dark matter particles, and the implications those might have on the Standard Model as a whole.

Art for @nsf_gov by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio. 
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#nsf #nsffunded #electronuncertainty #lasers #harvard #particlephysics #standardmodel #physics #physicsart #digitalart #sciart #scicomm #sciencecommunication #scienceart #scienceillustration #electron
Happy Friday everybody! Check out this opener illu Happy Friday everybody! Check out this opener illustration for @aacr_foundation's Cancer Discovery journal...👀

Our Art Director Claire Agosti makes fabulous tessellations (or repeating designs) to accompany the journal's latest medical research.
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#sciart #scicomm #scienceillustration #scientificillustration #scienceart #medicalart #medicalillustration #aacr #cancerdiscovery #art #artstudio #digitalart #vectorart #illustrator
Some project ideas don’t always make the cut…b Some project ideas don’t always make the cut…but we really liked this one! Should we finish it? 🤔

Work in progress time-lapse by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio.
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#timelapse #scienceillustration #scientificillustration #sciart #scicomm #artstudio #artistsofinstagram #digitalart #procreate #procreatetimelapse #scienceart #sciencecommunication
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