Seminar title: Tara Jambio Microplastic Joint Survey: Science x Art x Education

Speaker:

Sylvain Agostini (Dr. Sci.), Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba (Assistant Professor) and Tara Ocean Japan (Director)

Abstract:

This presentation will introduce the activities of the Tara Océan Foundation around the world and the Tara JAMBIO Microplastics Joint Survey, which began in 2020 using research vessels of marine stations around Japan. With the support of various private organizations, and with the cooperation of national universities participating in the JAMBIO network, the project has been conducted since 12 marine stations. More than 200 microplastic samples were collected from the estuary to the offshore, making this the widest survey of surface seawater, sediments, and beaches collected simultaneously on the Japanese coast. Microplastics were detected in all of the surface seawater , sediment and beach samples. Preliminary results highlight the accumulation of microplastics in coastal sediment nearby estuaries that act as a sink of microplastics. Surprisingly, the concentration in microplastics found were not directly correlated with the population nearby, showing that rather than the population, the management of plastic waste may be the main driver of plastic pollution. The project incorporated not only science, but also social contribution activities with numerous events conducted during and around the sampling events. Continuing the Tara Foundation's approach, artists participated in the Tara-Jambio project and created works of art that were exhibited in various places such as the Setouchi triennale in 2022.

Biography:

Sylvain has obtained his master at the University of Aix-Marseille in France, his native country, and his PhD at the Shizuoka University in 2009 where he was working on the importance of symbiotic bacteria for scleractinian corals. He is now an assistant professor at the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Japan. With a strong interest on the effects of anthropogenic stressors on marine ecosystems and especially corals ecosystems, he became a director of Tara Ocean Japan, the Japanese branch of the Tara Ocean Foundation in 2018. His work include research on the effects of ocean warming and acidification using natural analogues for which he co-founded the ICONA network, an international network of researchers working with natural analogues. Identifying the need for more data on the microplastic pollution in Japanese coastal waters, he started the Tara Jambio Microplastic Survey as a collaboration  between Tara Ocean Japan and the Jambio network of marine stations in Japan.

Zoom link:

https://oist.zoom.us/j/96653151387?pwd=ck1tRjRTQnAyQXJSc21vSlovTHdsdz09&from=addon
Meeting ID: 966 5315 1387 | Passcode: 849703