About LOMP Microplastics Citizen Science & Education

The Lake Ontario Microplastics Center (LOMP) offers a collection of microplastics educational resources and activity guides developed by the University of Rochester Medical Center. This suite of materials aims to support public understanding, citizen science initiatives, and community engagement in microplastics research and environmental health.

The resources are designed for a broad audience, including students, educators, and community members, to foster awareness about microplastic pollution. They explain what microplastics are, how scientists study them, and their potential connections to human and ecosystem health. The collection includes brochures, infographics, and hands-on activity guides for practical learning.

Key Features of LOMP Microplastics Citizen Science & Education

• “Microplastics and Me” Brochure: Provides an overview of microplastics and LOMP’s research, available in both English and Spanish, with an accessible text transcript.
• “What Can Frogs Teach Us About Human Health?” Infographic: Illustrates how scientists use Xenopus laevis frogs to investigate immune system development and how microplastics research contributes to protecting human and frog health.
• “Sand Sieving” Activity Guide: Engages participants in analyzing local sand samples for microplastics and considering sources of plastic pollution in their environment. This aligns with approaches seen in resources like Micro-Investigators: Community-Driven Microplastics Monitoring in NZ.
• “Plastic Mosaics” Activity Guide: Guides participants in creating mosaics from community plastic waste to visualize the link between everyday plastic and environmental pollution.
• “Microplastics and Nanoplastics: How Small is Small?” Activity Guide: Helps users conceptualize the scale of very small particles to understand the minute dimensions of microplastics and nanoplastics and the methods used for their study.
• “Meet the Plastics of LOMP!” Fact Sheets: Introduces various polymer types under investigation by LOMP researchers.

Development and Validation

These educational materials were developed by the Lake Ontario Microplastics Center (LOMP) within the University of Rochester Medical Center. LOMP is a research entity dedicated to understanding the impact of microplastics on human and environmental health. The content reflects scientific insights and research focus areas from a university-affiliated institution.

Access and Data Availability

All LOMP educational resources are open access and freely available for download from the University of Rochester Medical Center website. The materials include brochures, infographics, and detailed activity guides. The “Microplastics and Me” brochure provides English and Spanish versions along with a text transcript for accessibility.

Why This Resource Belongs on Plastiverse

This resource directly supports microplastics education, citizen science, and public outreach—key areas for Plastiverse users. It offers practical, ready-to-use activity guides, like the “Sand Sieving” and “Plastic Mosaics” activities, that facilitate hands-on learning and community engagement in monitoring and awareness. The inclusion of materials connecting microplastics research to broader health implications, such as immune system development, provides valuable context for interdisciplinary studies. Resources like this complement other Plastiverse entries that provide lesson plans for citizen science investigations.