City experts set to shine at bumper event to mark Plastic Free July®
A day of special events at The Box on Saturday 13 July will bring a range of local experts from across the city together to mark Plastic Free July®.
Inspired by the venue’s popular Planet Ocean exhibition, the aim of the day is to raise awareness about the challenges we face due to plastic pollution, but also inspire hope and signpost people to simple changes they can introduce in their everyday lives that can add up to make a huge difference.
Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. The event at The Box will include a talk froma world leading expert in microplastics research, the chance for visitors to get involved in collaborative artwork made from recycled plastic, opportunities to chat to representatives from local organisations including Clean Our Patch CIC and Till the Coast is Clear, and of course sign up to help out if they wish!
The schedule for the day is:
Talk and Q&A with Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS
10.30am-11.30am
Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS of the University of Plymouth’s International Marine Litter Research Unit will discuss the world-leading microplastics research that is taking place right here in our city.
£10 standard / £8 members – bookings via The Box’s website.
Family Fun: Let’s Make ‘Rubbish’ Art!
10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm
(last entries 12.15pm and 3.15pm)
Help create an amazing collaborative artwork that highlights the ocean life under threat from plastic pollution. Participants can bring along plastic bottle tops or plastic they’ve found on beaches.
Free, drop-in.
Precious Plastic Plymouth and Tavistock
11am–3pm
Bring in a piece of plastic and cycle to recycle! This fun and low-tech recycling project takes pieces of waste plastic and turns them into useful items. Anyone is welcome to have a go.
Free, sign up on arrival.
Gary Joliffe from 'Till the Coast is Clear' and the Plastic Free Whale
From 11.30am
Find out more about coastal litter picking and see a 10m long whale made from plastic collected during Till the Coast is Clear’s coastal clearance work.
Free, drop-in.
Meet the Curator
1.30pm-3.30pm
Drop in and chat to The Box’s natural history curator Sarah Marden to discover more about the Planet Oceanexhibition, plastic, the environment, and ways in which you can help.
Free, drop-in.
Clean our Patch
From 3pm
Hear about the impact of plastic waste in the city, see a 5ft high vape sculpture, or sign up to become part of Plymouth’s growing litter army!
Free, drop-in.
“Developing and hosting the Planet Ocean exhibition here at The Box has definitely made us more aware, not only of the challenges we’re facing but also of the fantastic research and ongoing work that is taking place right here on our doorstep,” says natural history curator, Sarah Marden.
“Our ‘Super Saturday’ will give visitors a really helpful insight into how we can be part of the solution and, most importantly, celebrate the work that so many individuals and organisations are doing in and around the city. We hope as many people as possible will come along and join in with everything that will be on offer throughout the day.”
For more information about the event and the Planet Ocean exhibition, or to book for Professor Richard Thompson’s talk, visit the what’s on section ofwww.theboxplymouth.com.
