Contest: Join a Plastic Pollution Research Voyage to the Atlantic Ocean

The 5 Gyres Institute, a leader in global plastic pollution research, has launched an online contest for those who want to learn first-hand about the problem and help drive solutions. One winner will be chosen to join the final leg of 5 Gyre’s June research expedition to the North Atlantic Ocean. Contestants may enter here through May 11, 2015.

The final, six-day leg of the voyage will traverse the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, where plastic pollution collects in high concentrations. It will depart St. George’s, Bermuda on June 18 and arrive in New York, New York on June 23. Contestants will be asked to submit a short video describing what they’ll do after the trip to solve plastic pollution locally.

The contest winner will also get to meet musician, waterman and activist Jack Johnson and participate in beach clean-ups. Johnson will take part in Leg #2 of the S.E.A Change Expedition (named for organizers’ desire to “see” positive change) and a 5 Gyres youth summit in the Bahamas to explore plastic pollution solutions.

“As someone who loves and lives in the ocean, I couldn’t be more excited to be participating in 5 Gyres’ S.E.A. Change Expedition and youth summit,” Johnson said. “I look forward to learning alongside the students, while helping to raise awareness of the importance of reducing our dependency on single-use plastics.”

Paid crew seats are still available on the S.E.A. Change Expedition. The #1 and #2 Legs of the expedition run June 2-4 from Miami, Florida to the Bahamas, and June 8-14 from the Bahamas to Bermuda, respectively. Expedition details here.

The expedition is a working adventure (not a pleasure cruise) aboard a 167-ft schooner, the Mystic. All crew will have the opportunity to participate in every aspect of the voyage, from ship navigation and handling to daily research efforts to document plastic pollution floating on the ocean’s surface. Expedition contestants must be at least 18.

No sailing experience is required, but the ability to work with a team and interest in leveraging the experience to drive solutions and awareness is a must. 5 Gyres recently published the first global estimate of all sizes of floating plastic pollution, finding more than five trillion particles present throughout the world’s oceans. The nonprofit group now likens the problem to widespread undersea smog, rather than well-defined garbage patches, and focuses on product design and policy solutions.

Expedition Partners: ACURE Organics, All Good, Bureo Skateboards, Indosole, Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, Klean Kanteen, Marley Coffee, Mission 2.Ocean, Osprey Packs, PlusFoam, Rainbow Light Nutrition and Zeal.