Academic Talk with Prof. Richard Thompson: Pioneer in Microplastics Research for Over 20 Years

The Editorial Office of Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics (WEC&N) is delighted to present a special interview featuring Prof. Richard Thompson, the Director of the Marine Institute, School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom, who has been nominated as “Global Highly Cited Researcher” by Clarivate Analytics in the field of “Environment and Ecology” for over 20 years. The enlightening interview was conducted on January 5, 2024. The moderator is Dr. Joana C. Prata from 1H-TOXRUN – One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, Gandra, Portugal.

About Prof. Richard Thompson

Richard Charles Thompson, a distinguished marine biologist focusing on marine litter, currently serves as the Director of the Marine Institute, a professor of Marine Biology, and leads the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth. His groundbreaking paper, Lost at Sea: Where is All the Plastic? published in the journal Science in 2004, was the first to introduce the term “microplastics”, which has since become common parlance. Since 2010, he has been a professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth, and since 2018, he has been the Director of the Marine Institute, part of the School of Biological and Marine Sciences at the university. He has also been at the helm of the University's International Marine Litter Research Unit.

Awards and Honors:

2016: Marsh Award for Marine and Freshwater Conservation from the Zoological Society of London and Marsh Christian Trust

2018: Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to marine science

2020: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)

2022: Volvo Environment Prize (2022)

2023: Blue Planet Prize (2023)

During this insightful conversation, Prof. Thompson graciously shares his perspectives on various topics, including the group's recent endeavors in studying the pharmacokinetics of microplastics in aquatic organisms. He expounds on the crucial recommendations of the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on plastics and human health, offering insights into existing plastic cleanup systems, best practices for addressing this issue, and his views on the adoption of biodegradable plastics, along with an exploration of future prospects and challenges. Additionally, Prof. Thompson delves into the opportunities and considerations of the blue economy in tackling ocean plastics. As a distinguished "Global Highly Cited Researcher" recognized by Clarivate for consecutive years, he imparts valuable advice to young researchers embarking on their careers and provides insights and tips on the art of thesis writing.

Access Prof. Thompson's answers in the video provided below:

The Editorial Office of WEC&N holds genuine admiration for Prof. Thompson’s accomplishments in marine ecology. Stay tuned for WEC&N’s upcoming publications and academic activities!

Editor: Suzy
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Yan Zhang
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics