Dauphin Island Sea Lab luncheon: Mobile, Ala. On October 25, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation (DISL) held its Eleventh Annual Marine Environmental Awards Luncheon at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
The featured speaker, Dr. Charlie Rolsky, serves as the Director of Science for Plastic Oceans International and the Director of Research for the prestigious Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine. His research spans contaminant monitoring, marine mammal health surveys, and the study of plastic pollution.
Dr. Rolsky is also the host of “Breaking It Down,” a YouTube series by Plastic Oceans that simplifies science in an engaging manner. He earned his PhD from Arizona State University (ASU), conducting groundbreaking research at the ASU Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering. His focus on marine and aquatic plastic pollution addresses a global concern. Identification, fate, and impact of these pollutants are now being understood, and Dr. Rolsky has developed analytical tools to enhance this understanding.
Collaborating with ASU’s Fulton School of Engineering and global groups, including Plastic Oceans, Dr. Rolsky contributed to various microplastics projects. Additionally, he employs non-invasive research methods to gather health information from wild species such as killer whales, using fecal samples. This approach yields valuable insights into stress, reproduction, and overall species health.
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