Max Liboiron

Last updated
Max Liboiron
CitizenshipCanadian
TitleProfessor
AwardsCollege of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists, Royal Society of Canada
Academic background
Alma mater New York University Ph.D

Stony Brook University MFA, grad certificate

Mount Allison University BFA
Thesis Redefining Pollution: Plastics in the Wild  (2012)
Sub-discipline Science and technology studies
Institutions Memorial University of Newfoundland
Website maxliboiron.com

Max Liboiron is a Canadian researcher and designer known for their contributions to the study of plastic pollution and citizen science. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Liboiron directs the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), an interdisciplinary plastic pollution laboratory based at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. [3] Liboiron was the Managing Editor of the online journal Discard Studies for nearly a decade, [4] which publishes research on industrial waste and its social, political, cultural, and economic implications. [5]

Liboiron is professor of geography at Memorial, with cross-appointments to the university's Department of Sociology, Environmental Sciences, and the Fisheries and Marine Institute. From 2018 to 2020, they served as Memorial's inaugural Associate Vice-president, Indigenous Research. [6]

Research Methods

Liboiron and their lab have created several research methods aimed to bring humility, accountability, and good land relations into research. [7] [8] These include: community peer review, where people who are impacted by research are part of the review process to validate and publish research; [9] returning biological samples back to the land; [10] university-level policies requiring consent from Indigenous groups to engage in research on their lands and communities; [11] and a legal contract for Indigenous data sovereignty where Indigenous groups own and control how data about their lands, people, and culture are used. [11]

Liboiron has invented build-it-yourself tools for monitoring marine plastic pollution, including a device called BabyLegs. The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum exhibited BabyLegs as part of its Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial from May 2019 to January 2020, which recognized designers "forging meaningful connections between humanity and the Earth". [12] [13]

Liboiron is a proponent of the Global Open Science Hardware (GOSH) movement, which argues that high equipment costs and intellectual property restrictions stifle scientific progress. [14]

Equity in academia

An example of Liboiron's equity in academia is deciding author order by consensus; valuing care work and other forms of labour that are usually left out of scientific value systems; and taking intersectional social standing into account. [15] [16] Other examples include using anti-oppressive facilitation to run lab meetings, and consensus-based decision making in the lab. [17]

Writing

Pollution is Colonialism

Liboiron's book Pollution is Colonialism argues that the environmental policies of many jurisdictions, and the dominant science upon which those policies are based, are characterized by colonialism. [10]

Redefining pollution and action: The matter of plastics

Their article Redefining pollution and action argues that in order to find attainable solutions to plastic pollution, it is necessary to consider the physical characteristics of plastics, such as density, size, or their molecular bonds. [18] Many people think of marine plastics as what is seen on land: plastic bottles, plastic bags, food wrappers, etc. Liboiron instead emphasizes the definition of marine plastics as the small microplastics that are harmful to life. This idea of harm is explored extensively throughout the article. The metaphor “toxic smog” is created by Liboiron and the others on the voyage from Bermuda to New York City to help common people and large plastic producing companies understand the harm. As explained, most people know that smog consists of particles in the air that are basically invisible to the human eye but harmful to health. Similarly, the microplastics in the ocean are also invisible, mostly because not many people are traveling to the middle of the ocean or to the ocean floor where most microplastics settle. Plastic is not the only cause of harm as their chemical additives, called monomers and plasticizers that sit on plastics and can detach at any point, cause additional harm. Today, studying the effects these toxic chemicals have on humans and animals is very difficult. Every human and animal that has been tested carries chemicals from plastics either directly or from monomers and plasticizers. This problem makes it impossible to create control groups to closely study the exact harm of plastics. It is well known that plastics correlate with harm to health. What is not known, and difficult to ascertain, is which plastics produce which effects, the amount of plastic it takes to cause harm, and at what point can effects be considered harmful. A main goal of the article is to create change, mostly through legislation and advocacy.

See also

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coast</span> Area where land meets the sea or ocean

The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. Shores are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape, as well as by water induced erosion, such as waves. The geological composition of rock and soil dictates the type of shore which is created. The Earth has around 620,000 kilometres (390,000 mi) of coastline. Coasts are important zones in natural ecosystems, often home to a wide range of biodiversity. On land, they harbor important ecosystems such as freshwater or estuarine wetlands, which are important for bird populations and other terrestrial animals. In wave-protected areas they harbor saltmarshes, mangroves or seagrasses, all of which can provide nursery habitat for finfish, shellfish, and other aquatic species. Rocky shores are usually found along exposed coasts and provide habitat for a wide range of sessile animals and various kinds of seaweeds. In physical oceanography, a shore is the wider fringe that is geologically modified by the action of the body of water past and present, while the beach is at the edge of the shore, representing the intertidal zone where there is one. Along tropical coasts with clear, nutrient-poor water, coral reefs can often be found between depths of 1–50 meters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental health</span> Public health branch focused on environmental impacts on human health

Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health. In order to effectively control factors that may affect health, the requirements that must be met in order to create a healthy environment must be determined. The major sub-disciplines of environmental health are environmental science, toxicology, environmental epidemiology, and environmental and occupational medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine debris</span> Human-created solid waste in the sea or ocean

Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created waste that has deliberately or accidentally been released in a sea or ocean. Floating oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and on coastlines, frequently washing aground, when it is known as beach litter or tidewrack. Deliberate disposal of wastes at sea is called ocean dumping. Naturally occurring debris, such as driftwood and drift seeds, are also present. With the increasing use of plastic, human influence has become an issue as many types of (petrochemical) plastics do not biodegrade quickly, as would natural or organic materials. The largest single type of plastic pollution (~10%) and majority of large plastic in the oceans is discarded and lost nets from the fishing industry. Waterborne plastic poses a serious threat to fish, seabirds, marine reptiles, and marine mammals, as well as to boats and coasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine pollution</span> Pollution of oceans from substances discarded by humans

Marine pollution occurs when substances used or spread by humans, such as industrial, agricultural and residential waste, particles, noise, excess carbon dioxide or invasive organisms enter the ocean and cause harmful effects there. The majority of this waste (80%) comes from land-based activity, although marine transportation significantly contributes as well. It is a combination of chemicals and trash, most of which comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean. This pollution results in damage to the environment, to the health of all organisms, and to economic structures worldwide.Since most inputs come from land, either via the rivers, sewage or the atmosphere, it means that continental shelves are more vulnerable to pollution. Air pollution is also a contributing factor by carrying off iron, carbonic acid, nitrogen, silicon, sulfur, pesticides or dust particles into the ocean. The pollution often comes from nonpoint sources such as agricultural runoff, wind-blown debris, and dust. These nonpoint sources are largely due to runoff that enters the ocean through rivers, but wind-blown debris and dust can also play a role, as these pollutants can settle into waterways and oceans. Pathways of pollution include direct discharge, land runoff, ship pollution, bilge pollution, atmospheric pollution and, potentially, deep sea mining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biodegradable plastic</span> Plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic pellet pollution</span> Marine debris from plastic manufacturing particles

Plastic pellet pollution is a type of marine debris originating from the plastic particles that are universally used to manufacture large-scale plastics. In the context of plastic pollution, these pre-production plastic pellets are commonly known as 'nurdles'. These microplastics are created separately from the user plastics they are melted down to form, and pellet loss can occur during both the manufacturing and transport stages. When released into the open environment, they create persistent pollution both in the oceans and on beaches. About 230,000 tonnes of nurdles are thought to be deposited in the oceans each year, where they are often mistaken for food by seabirds, fish and other wildlife. Due to their small size, they are notoriously difficult to clear up from beaches and elsewhere.

A garbage patch is a gyre of marine debris particles caused by the effects of ocean currents and increasing plastic pollution by human populations. These human-caused collections of plastic and other debris, cause ecosystem and environmental problems that affect marine life, contaminate oceans with toxic chemicals, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Once waterborne, marine debris becomes mobile. Flotsam can be blown by the wind, or follow the flow of ocean currents, often ending up in the middle of oceanic gyres where currents are weakest. Garbage patches grow because of widespread loss of plastic from human trash collection systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine plastic pollution</span> Environmental pollution by plastics

Marine plastic pollution is a type of marine pollution by plastics, ranging in size from large original material such as bottles and bags, down to microplastics formed from the fragmentation of plastic material. Marine debris is mainly discarded human rubbish which floats on, or is suspended in the ocean. Eighty percent of marine debris is plastic. Microplastics and nanoplastics result from the breakdown or photodegradation of plastic waste in surface waters, rivers or oceans. Recently, scientists have uncovered nanoplastics in heavy snow, more specifically about 3,000 tons that cover Switzerland yearly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic</span> Material of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids

Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptability, plus a wide range of other properties, such as being lightweight, durable, flexible, and inexpensive to produce, has led to its widespread use. Plastics typically are made through human industrial systems. Most modern plastics are derived from fossil fuel-based chemicals like natural gas or petroleum; however, recent industrial methods use variants made from renewable materials, such as corn or cotton derivatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Atlantic garbage patch</span> Large floating field of debris in the North Atlantic Ocean

The North Atlantic garbage patch is a garbage patch of man-made marine debris found floating within the North Atlantic Gyre, originally documented in 1972. A 22-year research study conducted by the Sea Education Association estimates the patch to be hundreds of kilometers across, with a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometer. The garbage originates from human-created waste traveling from rivers into the ocean and mainly consists of microplastics. The garbage patch is a large risk to wildlife through plastic consumption and entanglement. There have only been a few awareness and clean-up efforts for the North Atlantic garbage patch, such as The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO and The Ocean Cleanup, as most of the research and cleanup efforts have been focused on the Great Pacific garbage patch, a similar garbage patch in the north Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microplastics</span> Extremely small fragments of plastic

Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm (0.20 in) in length, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Chemicals Agency. They cause pollution by entering natural ecosystems from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, food packaging, and industrial processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microbead</span>

Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension. They are most frequently made of polyethylene but can be of other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene. They are used in exfoliating personal care products, toothpastes and in biomedical and health-science research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic pollution</span> Accumulation of plastic in natural ecosystems

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their habitat. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized by size into micro-, meso-, or macro debris. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, making them very adaptable for different uses; as a result, manufacturers choose to use plastic over other materials. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors allow large volumes of plastic to enter the environment as mismanaged waste which persists in the ecosystem and travels throughout food webs.

The Shaw Institute, formerly the Marine & Environmental Research Institute, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research organization based in Blue Hill, Maine and New York City. The institute conducts research into ocean pollution, flame retardants, microplastics and plastic pollution, sentinel species and climate change.

Tamara Susan Galloway is a British marine scientist and Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 Birthday Honours.

Rubber pollution, similar to plastic pollution, occurs in various environments, and originates from a variety of sources, ranging from the food industry processing chain to tire wear. Synthetic and natural rubber dust and fragments now occur in food, airborne as particulates in air pollution, hidden in the earth as soil pollution, and in waterways, lakes and the sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea Rochman</span> American marine and freshwater ecologist

Chelsea Marina Rochman is an American marine and freshwater ecologist whose research focuses on anthropogenic stressors in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Since September 2016, Rochman has been an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a scientific advisor to the Ocean Conservancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Development Goal 14</span> 14th of 17 Sustainable Development Goals to conserve life below water

Sustainable Development Goal 14 is about "Life below water" and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United States of America in 2015. The official wording is to "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". The Goal has ten targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards each target is being measured with one indicator each.

The Synthetic Collective is an interdisciplinary collective of visual artists, cultural workers and scientists. The collective researches about the impacts and complexities of plastics and micro-plastics in The Great Lakes region. Through their interdisciplinary collaboration, The Synthetic Collective produces arts and cultural exhibitions and projects, and scientific research and articles, all focused on plastic pollution, microplastics, and industrial plastic pellets. Their research processes rest at the intersection of geology and the arts. The collective's overall goal is to "to better connect scientific knowledge with potential cultural imports, and enrich artistic production with informed science.... Our intent is to follow plastics through from production and consumption to disposal and disaggregation." The Synthetic Collective's work can be considered a form of environmental activism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic pollution in the Mediterranean sea</span>

The Mediterranean Sea has been defined as one of the seas most affected by marine plastic pollution.

References

  1. ↑ "Dr. Max Liboiron". Oceanic Global. 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  2. ↑ "Do-it-yourself science is taking off". The Economist. 2017-12-19. ISSN   0013-0613 . Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  3. ↑ Buder, Emily. "The Feminist, Anti-Colonialist Scientific Approach to Micro-plastics and Pollution - The Atlantic". www.theatlantic.com. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  4. ↑ "Max Liboiron". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ↑ "What is discard studies?". Discard Studies. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  6. ↑ "Research". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  7. ↑ Liboiron, Max (2021). Pollution is colonialism. Durham. ISBN   978-1-4780-2144-5. OCLC   1240501259.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ↑ CLEAR (2021-09-04). "CLEAR Lab Book: A living manual of our values, guidelines, and protocols". doi:10.5281/ZENODO.5450517.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ Liboiron, Max; Zahara, Alex; Schoot, Ignace (2018-06-07). "Community Peer Review: A Method to Bring Consent and Self-Determination into the Sciences". doi: 10.20944/preprints201806.0104.v1 . S2CID   150153902.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. 1 2 Liboiron, Max (2021). Pollution is Colonialism. Durham: Duke University Press. ISBN   978-1-4780-2144-5.
  11. 1 2 "Research". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  12. ↑ Dr. Max Liboiron "BabyLegs" | Nature–Design Triennial , retrieved 2021-06-10
  13. ↑ "Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial | Exhibitions | Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum". collection.cooperhewitt.org. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  14. ↑ "By GOSH, it's Global Open Science Hardware!". HackSpace magazine. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  15. ↑ Liboiron, Max; Ammendolia, Justine; Winsor, Katharine; Zahara, Alex; Bradshaw, Hillary; Melvin, Jessica; Mather, Charles; Dawe, Natalya; Wells, Emily; Liboiron, France; Fürst, Bojan (2017-10-19). "Equity in Author Order: A Feminist Laboratory's Approach". Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience. 3 (2): 1–17. doi: 10.28968/cftt.v3i2.28850 . ISSN   2380-3312.
  16. ↑ Chawla, Dalmeet Singh (2018-12-20). "Assigning authorship for research papers can be tricky. These approaches can help". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  17. ↑ Laboratory Life: How We Run a Lab Meeting (Episode 3) , retrieved 2021-09-11
  18. ↑ Liboiron, Max (2016). "Redefining pollution and action: The matter of plastics". Journal of Material Culture . 21 (1): 87–110. doi:10.1177/1359183515622966. S2CID   51917993 – via SAGE.
  19. ↑ "Arctic and Northern Regions Archives". Gazette - Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  20. ↑ "Building DIY citizen science technology to see invisible marine plastics". Society for Social Studies of Science. 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  21. ↑ "2018 Award Winners: Nature Inspiration Awards | Canadian Museum of Nature". nature.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  22. ↑ "Strong Animals: Humility in Science". Science for the People. 22 January 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Distinguished Visiting Indigenous Faculty Fellow, 2020-21 | JHI". humanities.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
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