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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

Did you know that it’s plastic-free July? 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.

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 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 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

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).




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 have committed themselves to studying the plastic problem. They’re searching for large-scale societal solutions. Michael Bank, who we created this global plastics cover for, studies microplastics’ impacts across ecosystems. He’s proposed a worldwide sensor monitoring system to better gauge and track where pollution is coming from so that it can be stopped 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 partnership with the Coca-Cola Foundation to clean plastics from rivers and read our case study about illustrating the Ocean Futures epic visual.

I’m so honored that I’ve been able to help these ecologists in their quest to communicate their science and spread their message. 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 and 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, but also try to break our ziplock habit, and get better at not buying food in plastic (argh, but chips!?). Here is a great resource to get started on reducing your plastic use for Plastic Free July, and here are some great tips on what and how you can recycle.


We’re so glad you’re here! Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, and signing up for our newsletter:


Related posts:

  1. Conceptual Science Illustration World Bee Day, 2021
  2. Olympic Athlete Neuroscience Visuals
  3. 2013 AOI Science Illustration Awards
  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,  journal cover art,  ocean ecology,  ocean ecology graphic,  ocean ecology illustration,  ocean mural,  plastic infographic,  science communication,  science illustration,  scientist graphics,  scientist visuals,  sustainability graphic

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sayostudioscience

#sciart—microbes 🔬to galaxies 🔭—Nicolle Fuller leads SayoStudio creating art & animation of science wonders. #scienceillustration

SayoStudio
Did you know you can make a free, DIY water filter Did you know you can make a free, DIY water filter out of wood?! 

Trees naturally have xylem -- a straw like tubing -- to transport water and nutrients into the tree. The pores inside these xylem tubes are very complex on a nanoscale. Water molecules can flow freely through the tubing, but larger bacterial cells get trapped inside the xylem structures.
Because this filtration system removes rotavirus and E. coli, these filters meet the standards set by @WHO for clean, drinkable water. 

Learn more about nanoscientist Krithika Ramchander and Dr. Rohit Karnik's (@mit_engineering) research and see an animation of the xylem catching bacteria on our blog: https://sayostudio.com/science-diy-water-filter-animation

Art and animation created by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio
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#waterfilter #diywaterfilter #xylemwaterfilter #treefilter #tree #xylem #mit #engineeringweek #engineering #mitengineering #nanoscience #scicomm #sciart #scienceillustration #scientificillustration #sayostudio #animation
Is #ScienceFriday a thing on social media..? It is Is #ScienceFriday a thing on social media..? It is? Then allow us to introduce you to the basics of #StringTheory! â €
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String theory is a Theory of Everything (Grand Unification Theory) that seeks to unite the gravitational force with the other fundamental forces (electromagnetism and nuclear forces) that are already described by quantum mechanics at the atomic level. â €
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Gaining a foothold in the theoretical physics community during the 1970's, string theory states that fundamental particles such as quarks + electrons are not points of energy or matter, but result instead from the vibrations of one-dimensional ‘string-like’ entities on a far smaller scale. ⠀
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Although string theory is highly debated and very complex, it poses very interesting solutions to why our observed universe acts the way it does. â €
What's your take on string theory? â €
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Artwork by Nicolle R Fuller, SayoStudio â €
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#stringtheory #granreunificationtheory #theoryofeverything #physics #quantummechanics #nuclear #multidimensions #dimensions #sciart #scienceillustration #scicomm #electromagnetism #energy #matter â €
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Could neurodegenerative diseases really be caused Could neurodegenerative diseases really be caused by ancient viral infections? â €
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The recent discovery of viral proteins in the brains of MS/ALS patients created a mysterious link between human genes and neurodegenerative disease. â €
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Researchers are just now beginning to understand how ancient human endogenous retroviruses (or HERVs) affect our immune responses today. HERV proteins cause disruptions of nuclei in cells; triggering the cells to mount an immune response in the central nervous system. This disruption spreads from cell to cell progressively; and is shown to cause significant motor neuron deterioration. â €
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You can read more about this research here: https://loom.ly/_uTOBvc â €
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Artwork by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio for @the_scientist_magazine. â €
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#msawarenessweek #multiplesclerosis #neurodegenerative #neurodisease #als #ms #medicalillustration #cell #sciart #scicomm #scienceillustration #medart #stem #sayostudio â €
Having your heart flutter on Valentine's Day might Having your heart flutter on Valentine's Day might seem normal...but for some, it's a common symptom of atrial fibrillation. 💓

Afib is a heart arrhythmia characterized by irregular or fast beating. Electrical signals in the heart dictate how often your heart pumps-- and for some this can get out of whack, causing palpitations and dizziness. 

Luckily  treatment exists to manage Afib. To learn more, visit the American Heart Association or click the link below: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation

Artwork by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio for @popularmechanics
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#AmericanHeartMonth #NationalHeartMonth #Scienceillustration #sciart #hearthealth #americanheartassociation #afib #atrialfibrillation #arrhythmia #valentinesheart #heartart #medicalart #medicalillustration
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