Winnie is an marine biologist and plastic pollution expert whose research focuses on understanding the ecological impacts of anthropogenic stressors. In particular her research interests encompass the environmental prevalence, fate and impacts of (micro)plastics on organisms and ecosystem functions, to assess environmental risk and supporting effective interventions.

Since completing her PhD (SAMS, 2019), where she researched the current and historic presence of microplastic pollution in the deep sea ecosystem, Winnie spent 5 years working within the International Marine Litter Research Unit, at the University of Plymouth.

Her research has led her to study plastic pollution in a variety of terrestrial and marine environments, from agricultural soils and coastline to some of the most remote parts of our planet including the deep sea and oceanic gyres.

She has extensive experience conducting research at sea and in remote locations (e.g. Belize, Tanzania, and she has sailed the North Atlantic and South Pacific Ocean). As 'eXXpedition Round the World science lead' she led research examining the global land-sea flows and movement of plastic pollution and worked with >240 women citizen scientists from 40 nationalities. As part of the NERC-funded “Bio-Plastic-Risk” project, she has focussed on the environmental degradation and impacts of biodegradable and bio-based plastics (often termed as ‘bioplastics’ or ‘alternative plastics’).

Winnie is a passionate science communicator and authority on (micro)plastic pollution; she has spoken at the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Canada, and the British and European Parliaments. She is an active member of the Scientist Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, (co-leading working groups on 'Microplastics', and 'Alternative & substitute Plastics') which supports progress towards the development of a legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution. She attended the 3rd and 4th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee sessions.

  • PhD: Microplastics in the deep-sea ecosystem: A study from the Rockall Trough, North East Atlantic Ocean
    The Scottish Association for Marine Science, 2015–2019
  • MSc: MRes Marine Biology
    University of Plymouth, 2012–2013
  • BSc: Zoology and Animal Behaviour
    2008–2011
Current PhD Supervision 2024-Present; Allicia Fullarton "Plastic pellet pollution: establishing safe and proportionate clean up responses"

2025

  • CyhoeddwydPlastics matter in the food system
    Yates, J., Deeney, M., Munck, J., Carney Almroth, B., Dignac, M.-F., Castillo Castillo , A., Courtene-Jones, W., Kadiyala, S., Kumar, E., Stoett, P., Wang, M. & Farrelly, T., 6 Maw 2025, Yn: Communications Earth and Environment. 6
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuTowards a ‘theory of change’ for ocean plastics: a socio-oceanography approach to the global challenge of plastic pollution
    Horton, A., Henderson, L., Bowyer, C., Courtene-Jones, W., Garrard, S., Kulsum, N. M., McKay, D., Manikarachchige, I., Sreekumar, S. & Stanton, T., 13 Mai 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Microplastics and Nanoplastics. 5, 20 (2025).
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2024

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2025

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2022