Scientists forecast that the amount of plastic entering the ocean—approximately 11 million metric tons each year—could triple by 2040. To help find solutions, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Gerstner Philanthropies are launching fellowships to support innovative research exploring ways to reduce marine plastic pollution.
The fellowships come at a critical moment: Already, scientists have documented negative impacts of ocean plastic pollution on more than 800 species so far, including all sea turtle species, more than 40% of marine mammal species, and 44% of seabirds. Marine animals are often trapped in or swallow plastic debris, leading to suffocation, malnutrition, and drowning. Investing in research to develop effective strategies for mitigating plastic pollution is a critical step in safeguarding our oceans.
Three Pew-Gerstner Fellows in Ocean Plastics Research will be selected over the next two years. Each fellow will lead a three-year project designed to produce solutions-oriented research related to this pressing environmental challenge. The first fellow will be announced in 2026.
“We are thrilled to launch this new fellowship and take a significant step toward addressing the crisis of plastic pollution in our oceans,” said Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner, vice president of environment programs at Gerstner Philanthropies. “This partnership allows us to both expand our ability to support cutting-edge research on ocean plastics and equip a new generation of researchers with the means to create lasting, impactful solutions. The results will allow us to further protect marine ecosystems for years to come.”
The Pew-Gerstner initiative will build upon the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation, which for over three decades has supported more than 200 talented scientists from 44 countries pursuing a wide range of ocean conservation research. Pew-Gerstner fellowship recipients will contribute to this network of experts and benefit from opportunities to collaborate with other researchers at program meetings and events, where fellows exchange findings, explore timely conservation issues, share tools and resources, and engage in peer mentorship.
The Pew-Gerstner fellows will enhance existing expertise in the program’s global community of fellows and alumni, including plastics researchers such as 2018 fellow Martin Thiel. Thiel created a research network to study the composition and abundance of marine plastic litter, and its potential to transport invasive species, along the Pacific coast of Latin America. More recently, 2024 fellow James Kar-Hei Fang has been investigating microplastic accumulation in Hong Kong’s shellfish, recently spearheading research that revealed high numbers of microplastics in green-lipped mussels, a popular seafood species.
“The Pew marine fellowship is designed to act as a catalyst for midcareer experts to help them maximize the impact of their research," said Leo Curran, director of the Pew marine fellows program. “This individual-focused approach allows the program to address a broad range of emerging and critical issues in the marine environment such as plastic pollution.”
Pew’s long-standing portfolio of conservation work also includes its preventing ocean plastics project, which collaborates with governments, intergovernmental organizations, industry, scientists, and civil society to better understand the plastic system and advocate for science-based policy to prevent plastic pollution. Launched in 2018, the project has published numerous insights and analyses to suggest actions needed to stop plastic from entering the ocean.
“Grounded in science and data, Pew's preventing ocean plastics project aims to develop effective policies and solutions to the ocean plastic pollution crisis,” said Winnie Lau, project director of the preventing ocean plastics project. “I am thrilled to see this important work expand through the Pew-Gerstner fellowship, under the guidance of the marine fellows program, which has a proven track record of building and sustaining communities of outstanding technical expertise.”
Nathan Fedrizzi works on the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation.