Young Citizen Scientists Hunt for Microplastics on Pollock Beach
Official source
Source domain: saeon.ac.za
Collected on 28 July 2026
Always confirm details on the official source before acting.
What this means
What this document offers
Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.
Hands-on microplastics survey practical activity at Pollock Beach (National Science Month)
Learners in Grades 9 to 11 were invited to take part in an interactive microplastics survey at Pollock Beach, using guided walks and practical sampling methods to identify and quantify meso- and microplastics during the winter school holidays.
- Who it is for
- learners in Grades 9 to 11
- How to act on it
- Join the hands-on beach practical activity organised by the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) together with Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre at Pollock Beach during the winter school holidays.
Show the line this came from
In celebration of National Science Month, the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), together with Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre, organised an exciting, hands-on beach practical activity for learners in Grades 9 to 11.
Facts
Places
Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay
Reference
https://www.saeon.ac.za/2026/07/24/young-citizen-scientists-hunt-for-microplastics-on-pollock-beach/
Key Takeaways
- NRF-SAEON (South African Environmental Observation Network)
- Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre (partner)
- 16 July (winter school holidays)
- Pollock Beach, Gqeberha (Gqeberha/Algoa Bay context)
- Learners in Grades 9 to 11
- Guided beach walk: 1 kilometre
- Sampling area: 4 m x 4 m master quadrat (16 m²)
- Nested mini quadrats used instead of sampling all 16 m²
- Microplastics extraction protocol: sieve test (top 2 cm; large & fine mesh sieves), float test (saltwater density separation), squeeze test (tweezers; crumbles = natural; bends/intact = plastic)
- Plastic types recorded: fragments, pellets, films, fibres
- Learners used a formal environmental monitoring formula to estimate plastic footprint across the station
- Opportunity to visit Ocean Science laboratory and technical department
- South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON)
- Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre
- NRF-SAEON Elwandle Node staff
- Algoa Bay
- Ocean Science laboratory
- Technical department