Studying the most effective modes of marine science communication on plastic pollution in the oceans by Simone A. Burton A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Honors Baccalaureate of Science in Biology (Honors Scholar) Presented May 28, 2021 Commencement June 2021 1 2 AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Simone A. Burton for the degree of Honors Baccalaureate of Science in Biology presented on May 28, 2021. Title: Studying the most effective modes of marine science communication on plastic pollution in the oceans. Abstract approved: _____________________________________________________ Diana Rohlman The ocean provides many ecosystems services and yet humans have viewed the ocean as a black hole for trash since the 1950s. With recycling not getting to the source of the problem, smarter consumer choices are being targeted, specifically choices centered around the use of plastic. Thus efficient, useful communication is needed to inform consumer choices. This thesis project studied the most effective modes of marine science communication regarding plastic pollution in the ocean. We hypothesized that visual modes of science communication would be more effective at increasing knowledge of plastic pollution in the oceans and inspiring changes in plastic use. In a survey, participants viewed 4 communication products on marine plastic pollution (video, infographic, image, and text) and ranked those products, as well as how likely they were to complete different action items. The survey was distributed through environmental science list-servs, resulting in a high proportion of respondents self-identifying as having high knowledge around marine plastic pollution. A literature review and the results from the survey identified the following key concepts when communicating: use visuals, provide context, identify solutions, keep visuals simple and free of “clutter”, and keep the message succinct. While there was a general agreeance that visual modes of science communication are preferred over text modes, we found that context and solutions must also be included with the visuals to accomplish effective communication. A higher knowledge of the topic was related to more action towards the issue, a statement supported by previous studies. Additionally, location, measured here as in Oregon, or outside Oregon, may have some impact on willingness to complete anti-plastic action items, with respondents outside Oregon rating their willingness higher. This survey informed a COVID-19 specific carousel product, evaluated with a 2nd survey. Participants of the 2nd survey were similarly highly-educated and highly rated their knowledge of marine plastic pollution. Respondents requested data-driven and negative, aggressive imagery communicating the effects of marine plastic pollution on wildlife. However, these desires are in contrast with accepted science communication strategies that highlight solution-oriented actions. Because of our highly educated sample, this indicates a discord between highly educated members of our society and skills in science communication. Science communication is of great importance to all STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) fields, making the realization of this discord startling. Future work would incorporate a more diverse population, specifically amongst people rating their knowledge of marine plastic pollution as average, or less than most people. Key Words: science communication, marine science, marine plastic pollution, environmental literacy, behavior change, COVID-19 pandemic Corresponding e-mail address: [email protected] 3 ©Copyright by Simone A. Burton May 28, 2021 4 Studying the most effective modes of marine science communication on plastic pollution in the oceans by Simone A. Burton A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Honors Baccalaureate of Science in Biology (Honors Scholar) Presented May 28, 2021 Commencement June 2021 5 Honors Baccalaureate of Science in Biology project of Simone A. Burton presented on May 28, 2021. APPROVED: _____________________________________________________________________________ Diana Rohlman, Mentor, representing Environmental and Occupational Health _____________________________________________________________________________ Ehren Helmut Pflugfelder, Committee Member, representing School of Writing, Literature, and Film _____________________________________________________________________________ Holly V. Campbell, Committee Member, representing Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences _____________________________________________________________________________ Toni Doolen, Dean, Oregon State University Honors College I understand that my project will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University, Honors College. My signature below authorizes release of my project to any reader upon request. _____________________________________________________________________________ Simone A. Burton, Author 6 Studying the most effective modes of marine science communication on plastic pollution in the oceans By Simone A. Burton 7 Acknowledgements Thank you to the following people and groups for their wonderful guidance, advice, and support while completing my honors thesis! o Ehren Pflugfelder, committee member o Holly Campbell, committee member o Kerry Carlin-Morgan, Director of Education, Oregon Coast Aquarium o Katharine Nalven, Alaska Marine Representative, Defenders of Wildlife o Briana Goodwin, Oregon Field Manager, Surfrider Foundation o Hillary Esquina, Director of Digital Communications, Defenders of Wildlife o Kassena Hillman, Honors College Advisor, Oregon State University o Cynthia Leonard, OSU Ocean11 Marine Club advisor o Andrea Norris, OSU Waste Watchers club o Diane Laundry, Coordinator for the Bainbridge Island Zero Waste Newsletter o Natalie Harris, Honors College Videographer and Media Designer o Hamza Molvi, Honors College Social Media Coordinator o Tara Dubois, Coordinator for The Cape Perpetua Collaborative o Flaxen Conway, Professor and Director of the Marine Resource Management program, Oregon State University o Honors College Monday Message team o International Marine Debris Listserv o National Udall Scholarship Alumni o NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholars and Alumni o OSU Science Communication Listserv A special thank you to my family and friends who gave me encouragement on the hardest days. And to Diana, my mentor, without whom this endeavor and my graduation as an honors scholar would not be possible. Thank you for believing in me and turning the hopeless into the hopeful. “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” -Howard Zinn 8 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to Marine Plastic Pollution ...............................................................10 Impacts on marine life ............................................................................................................11 Impacts on ecosystem services ...............................................................................................12 Steps to reduce plastic pollution .............................................................................................13 Science communication and plastic pollution education ........................................................15 Chapter 2: Evaluating the effectiveness of marine plastic pollution communication products…………………………………………………………………………………………17 Introduction ............................................................................................................................17 Methods ..................................................................................................................................17 Results ....................................................................................................................................21 Discussion and Conclusion.....................................................................................................29 Chapter 3: Developing messaging around COVID-19 related marine plastic pollution…………………..………………………………………………………………..……32 Introduction ............................................................................................................................32 Methods ..................................................................................................................................33 Results ....................................................................................................................................35 Discussion and Conclusion.....................................................................................................43 Chapter 4: Conclusions…...……………………………………………………………………45 Overall conclusions ................................................................................................................45 Caveats to this study ...............................................................................................................45 Limitations to science communication and best practices .....................................................46 Bibliography…………..…...……………………………………………………………………48 Appendix A: Tables from Chapter 1……………..……………………………………………52 Appendix B: Figures from Chapters 1 and 2…...……………………...………..……………57 9 Chapter 1: Introduction to Marine Plastic Pollution Ocean health and human health are inextricably linked (Poe et al. 2014; Plymouth