Surface Litter

Dr Cherie Motti is a Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and an internationally recognised expert in microplastics research. Her work focuses on understanding the distribution, fate, and ecological impacts of microplastics in marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs and food webs. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications on microplastics and has led the development of widely adopted sampling and analytical protocols, advancing global monitoring and risk assessment efforts. Through leadership roles in major national and international initiatives, including IMOS and IMDOS, Dr Motti helps shape research, monitoring, and policy responses to marine plastic pollution.

María Belén Alfonso is an Associate Professor specializing in plastic pollution, with a focus on microplastics in freshwater and marine systems. She leads the Field-Driven Research Unit at the Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Kyushu University, and serves as a member of the AOMI Secretariat. She has led and contributed to international research initiatives advancing harmonized methodologies and large-scale monitoring of microplastics. Her work integrates environmental chemistry and ecology to elucidate the sources, distribution, and ecological impacts of plastic pollution, including pioneering studies on microplastic ingestion by plankton and its implications for trophic transfer. She is actively engaged in capacity building and science–policy processes, contributing to global efforts to improve data comparability and inform evidence-based policy on plastic pollution.