Tag: University of Portsmouth

Plant-based plastic releases nine times less microplastics than conventional plastic

Stuart Mitchell

A newly developed plant-based plastic material releases nine times less microplastics than conventional plastic when exposed to sunlight and seawater, a new study has found. The research, led by experts from the University of Portsmouth and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), in Belgium, looked at how two different types of plastic break down when tested in extreme conditions.  A bio-based plastic material made from natural feedstocks held up better when exposed to intense UV light and seawater for 76 days – the equivalent of 24 months of sun exposure in…

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New project to help young women deal with social media body image pressures

Stuart Mitchell

Young women navigating the complex world of body image on social media are the focus of a new project launched this week.  Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and The Girls’ Network (Portsmouth) will work together with local young women to create a ‘toolkit’, to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to cope with potentially harmful social media content. As part of the project researchers will introduce girls to historic media content, including 19th and 20th century magazines and adverts, to show them that beauty ideals and body image…

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Ambitious project launched to save UK coastline

Stuart Mitchell

A project that brings together marine scientists and business leaders to help improve the health of the UK coastline has started. Researchers hope the initiative will help tackle biodiversity loss in coastal regions and mitigate the effects of climate change.  The Solent to Sussex Bay Seascape Restoration project will initially bring about seascape restoration by uniting science and business communities on the South Coast of England and will then be scaled up nationally.   Seascape restoration is a nature-based solution to tackle biodiversity loss, boost carbon take up, and enhance economic…

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University helping to solve South African plastic waste crisis

Stuart Mitchell

Dr Cressida Bowyer, Deputy Director of Portsmouth University’s  Revolution Plastics programme, has just returned from a visit to South Africa. She was on a fact finding and planning mission, to understand more about current waste management practices in rural areas of the country . Dr Bowyer visited local communities in Mpumalanga province, a two-hour drive north-east of Johannesburg. Uncontrolled ‘mountains’ of plastic rubbish are becoming an increasingly serious problem there, threatening the environment and human health. Waste is often burnt, contributing to climate change and poor air quality. The project,…

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