Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40376510›Full record

ReviewMicroplastics and nanoplastics2025

Towards a 'theory of change' for ocean plastics: a socio-oceanography approach to the global challenge of plastic pollution.

Alice A Horton, Lesley Henderson, Cressida Bowyer, Winnie Courtene-Jones, Samantha L Garrard, Nieke Monika Kulsum, Deirdre McKay, Imali Manikarachchige, Sreejith Sreekumar, Thomas Stanton

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Microplastics and nanoplastics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Alice A HortonNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK.
Lesley HendersonDepartment of Humanities, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow, G1 1XQ UK.
Cressida BowyerRevolution Plastics Institute, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3DE UK.
Winnie Courtene-JonesInternational Marine Litter Research Unit, School of Biological and Marine Science, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8 AA UK.
Samantha L GarrardPlymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Pl, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK.
Nieke Monika KulsumDepartment of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Nasional Jawa, Barat, 16424 Indonesia.
Deirdre McKaySchool of Geography, Geology and the Environment, William Smith Building, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG UK.
Imali ManikarachchigeFaculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Burgess Road, Southampton, SO16 7QF UK.
Sreejith SreekumarICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, CIFT Junction, Willingdon Island, Matsyapuri P.O, Cochin, 682 029 Kerala India.
Thomas StantonGeography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3 TU UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Socio-oceanography is an emerging field which mobilises insights from natural and social sciences to explore the inter-connectedness of societal relationships with the ocean and to adopt a holistic approach to solving key oceanographic and societal challenges. It is within this specific context that we explore and reflect upon diverse communities in relation to engaging with plastic pollution in the ocean, one of the foremost socio-environmental challenges of our time. We establish definitions of 'community', arguing that communities are not 'out there' waiting to be engaged with but are dynamic and (re)constituted in four key contexts - geographical, practical, virtual, and circumstantial. We outline some 'rules of engagement' and draw upon several international case studies in the context of plastic pollution to evidence and emphasise the value of working with members of diverse communities to better address socio-oceanographic challenges. In the context of plastic pollution, communities have a vital role to play in terms of co-creating knowledge, lived experience, diverse expertise, and agency to bring about social change. Given the ubiquity of plastics in our day-to-day lives, and subsequently as an environmental pollutant, no community is unaffected by this issue. Relating to socio-oceanography, we argue that structural power imbalances in terms of how diverse communities and natural scientists are traditionally positioned within academic research mean that 'formal' scientific knowledge is frequently privileged, and members of communities risk being positioned as 'empty vessels'. Moving away from this 'deficit' model where knowledge is simply Graphical Abstract:

Indexed as

Citizen ScienceEnvironmental SciencePlastic PollutionSocial JusticeSocial Science

Identifiers

PMID40376510
PMCPMC12075391

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.