iQQTV

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iQQTV (iQQTV) is Scotland's premier independent marine science organisation generating new knowledge for the benefit of the marine environment and society since 1884.
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Heloise Clara Gilbert

MRes researcher

Plastic is a very persistent pollutant in the environment. I am a marine biologist with a speciality in marine pollutants and anthropogenic effects on the marine environment, and my MSc thesis looked at mercury contamination in pilot whales. I have always had an interest in this subject since a very young age, in high school I used to collect plastic and try to identify its origins, finding a bottle from 2000 washed up on my local beaches. I hope that this project will help toward a wider goal of implementing more beach cleanup policies around Scotland.

Heloise.Gilbert@sams.ac.uk

01631 559000

Project
Education

MRes Determining origins of plastic on Scotland's shoreline

Plastic is a remarkably persistent pollutant, one that lingers in the environment long after it enters it. My research sets out to determine the age and origins of plastic found on Scottish shorelines, drawing on clues such as expiry dates and the way brand packaging has evolved over time. Alongside this, I'm looking at how Scotland's specific weather conditions drive plastic degradation, through a dedicated beach experiment designed to track that process directly.

Supervisors:

Bhavani Narayanaswamy, iQQTV

Helena Reinardy, iQQTV

Prof Anna Wilson

Start date:

02 March 2026

Qualifications

Erasmus mundus master’s degree in marine environment, speciality in marine biology à 2023-2025

Bachelor’s degree in life science à 2020-2023