Overview
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.
Qualifications
- 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
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
Publications
2025
- PublishedPlastics 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 Mar 2025, In: Communications Earth and Environment. 6
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - E-pub ahead of printTowards 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 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Microplastics and Nanoplastics. 5, 20 (2025).
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2024
- PublishedAre Biobased Microfibers Less Harmful than Conventional Plastic Microfibers: Evidence from Earthworms
Courtene-Jones, W., De Falco, F., Burgevin, F., Handy, R. D. & Thompson, R. C., 19 Nov 2024, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 58, 46, p. 20366-20377 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedDeterioration of bio-based polylactic acid plastic teabags under environmental conditions and their associated effects on earthworms
Courtene-Jones, W., Burgevin, F., Munns, L., Shillam, M. B. T., De Falco, F., Buchard, A., Handy, R. D., Thompson, R. C. & Hanley, M. E., 15 Jul 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 934, p. 172806
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedEffect of biodegradable and conventional microplastic exposure in combination with seawater inundation on the coastal terrestrial plant Plantago coronopus
Courtene-Jones, W., Cheung, S. W. H., Thompson, R. C. & Hanley, M. E., 1 Nov 2024, In: Environmental Pollution. 360, 124573.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedIntentionally added plastics in personal care products - a key source of microplastics to the environment - effects and mitigation: Key sources of microplastics to the environment: Working Papers developed by Members of the Scientists’ Coalition
Mendrik, F., Farrelly, T., Reynaud, S., Courtene-Jones, W. & Thompson, R. C., Sept 2024.
Research output: Working paper - PublishedMicrofibres from textiles - A key source of microplastics to the environment: Fate, effects, and mitigation strategies. Key sources of microplastics to the environment: Working Papers developed by Members of the Scientists’ Coalition
Brander, S., De Falco, F., Kelly, M., Weis, J., Carney Almroth, B., Baztan, J., Sparks, C., Courtene-Jones, W. & Thompson, R. C., Sept 2024, Scientists Coalition.
Research output: Working paper - PublishedPaint – a key source of microplastics to the environment: An introduction to the fate, effects, and mitigation strategies: Key sources of microplastics to the environment: Working Papers developed by Members of the Scientists’ Coalition
Al-jaibacji, R., Courtene-Jones, W., Reynaud, S., Sparks, C., Baztan, J., Kelly, M. & Thompson, R. C., Sept 2024, Scientists Coalition.
Research output: Working paper - PublishedReducing plastic Waste
Courtene-Jones, W., 31 Jul 2024, 26 p. UK Parliament.
Research output: Other contribution - PublishedTwenty years of microplastic pollution research-what have we learned?
Thompson, R. C., Courtene-Jones, W., Boucher, J., Pahl, S., Raubenheimer, K. & Koelmans, A. A., 25 Oct 2024, In: Science. 386, 6720, p. eadl2746
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review - PublishedVehicle tyres – A key source of microplastics to the environment: An introduction to the fate, effects, and mitigation strategies
Booth, A., Sørensen, L., Brander, S., Weis, J., Courtene-Jones, W., Parker-Jurd, F. & Thompson, R. C., 23 Oct 2024.
Research output: Working paper
2023
- PublishedA Review of Biodegradable Plastics from Multidisciplinary Perspectives
Courtene-Jones, W., De Falco, F. & Napper, I., 2023, Plastic Pollution in the Global Ocean.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter - PublishedPolicy Brief: The global plastics treaty: What is the role of bio-based plastic, biodegradable plastic and bioplastic? (possible core obligation 8)
Courtene-Jones, W., 2023, 3 p.
Research output: Other contribution › peer-review
2022
- PublishedFrom microbes to ecosystems: a review of the ecological effects of biodegradable plastics
Courtene-Jones, W., Martínez Rodríguez, A. & Handy, R. D., 1 Dec 2022, In: Emerging topics in life sciences. 6, 4, p. 423-433 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review - PublishedPlastic pollution: the science we need for the planet we want
Courtene-Jones, W., Clark, N. J. & Thompson, R. C., 1 Dec 2022, In: Emerging topics in life sciences. 6, 4, p. 333-337 5 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review - PublishedPlastic pollution requires an integrative systems approach to understand and mitigate risk
Courtene-Jones, W., Clark, N. J. & Thompson, R. C., 1 Dec 2022, In: Emerging topics in life sciences. 6, 4, p. 435-439 5 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedSynthetic microplastic abundance and composition along a longitudinal gradient traversing the subtropical gyre in the North Atlantic Ocean
Courtene-Jones, W., van Gennip, S., Penicaud, J., Penn, E. & Thompson, R. C., Dec 2022, In: Marine pollution bulletin. 185, Pt B, p. 114371
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2021
- PublishedSource, sea and sink-A holistic approach to understanding plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean
Courtene-Jones, W., Maddalene, T., James, M. K., Smith, N. S., Youngblood, K., Jambeck, J. R., Earthrowl, S., Delvalle-Borrero, D., Penn, E. & Thompson, R. C., 25 Nov 2021, In: Science of the Total Environment. 797, p. 149098
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2020
- PublishedElucidating the vertical transport of microplastics in the water column: A review of sampling methodologies and distributions
Liu, K., Courtene-Jones, W., Wang, X., Song, Z., Wei, N. & Li, D., 1 Nov 2020, In: Water research. 186, p. 116403
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review - PublishedMicroplastic accumulation in deep-sea sediments from the Rockall Trough
Courtene-Jones, W., Quinn, B., Ewins, C., Gary, S. F. & Narayanaswamy, B. E., May 2020, In: Marine pollution bulletin. 154, p. 111092
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2019
- PublishedConsistent microplastic ingestion by deep-sea invertebrates over the last four decades (1976-2015), a study from the North East Atlantic
Courtene-Jones, W., Quinn, B., Ewins, C., Gary, S. F. & Narayanaswamy, B. E., Jan 2019, In: Environmental Pollution. 244, p. 503-512 10 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2018
- PublishedEstimating effective detection area of passive, static acoustic data loggers from playback experiments with cetacean vocalisations
Nuuttila, H. K., Brundiers, K., Dahne, M., Koblitz, J. C., Thomas, L., Courtene-Jones, W., Evans, P. G. H., Turner, J. R., Bennell, J. & Hiddink, J. G., Dec 2018, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9, 12, p. 2362-2371
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2017
- PublishedDon't forget the porpoise: acoustic monitoring reveals fine scale temporal variation between bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise in Cardigan Bay SAC
Nuuttila, H. K., Courtene-Jones, W., Baulch, S., Simon, M. & Evans, P. G. H., 21 Feb 2017, In: Marine Biology. 164, 3, p. 50
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedMicroplastic pollution identified in deep-sea water and ingested by benthic invertebrates in the Rockall Trough, North Atlantic Ocean
Courtene-Jones, W., Quinn, B., Gary, S. F., Mogg, A. O. M. & Narayanaswamy, B. E., Dec 2017, In: Environmental Pollution. 231, Pt 1, p. 271-280 10 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
2025
- Speaker, Deep-dive on INC Chair’s text with the Scientists Coalition
Presented Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty analyses of text from the Chair's Text of the Plastic Treaty Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee during a webinar for members across Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe.
22 Apr 2025
Activity: Invited talk (Speaker) - Insights Wales public talk: Microplastic pollution and solutions
Invited webinar, 'Microplastic pollution and solutions' for Environment Platform Wales, as part of their Insights Wales series.
19 Mar 2025
Links:
Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Contributor) - PhD examiner
Invited PhD examiner: "Microplastic sedimentation in global, Arctic, and fjord settings: Pollution events and environmental residency for heterogenous plastics" at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Mar 2025
Activity: Examination (Examiner) - Invited webinar "Microplastic Pollution and Solutions"
Invited webinar "Microplastic Pollution and Solutions" for the biological Recording Company
25 Feb 2025
Links:
Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Contributor) - Contribution to the World Trade Organisation Dialogue on Plastics Pollution Guiding Questions
Contribution to the Scientists' Coalition for and Effective Plastics Treaty response to the World Trade Organisation Dialogue on Plastics Pollution Guiding Questions
10 Feb 2025 – 5 Mar 2025
Links:
Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups (Contributor)
2024
- EPW Plastic Knowledge Exchange workshop
Presented at the pan-Wales plastic knowledge exchange workshop for Welsh Government-Academia, hosted by Environment Platform Wales
17 Dec 2024 – 18 Dec 2024
Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Invited speaker) - Research cited in Policy
Research cited within the UK Parliament POST Note on 'Reducing plastic waste'
31 Jul 2024
Links:
Activity: Other (Contributor) - UN Plastics Treaty; Alternatives and substitutes: if plastics are the problem, is switching to different polymers or materials the solution?
During the 4th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting on the development of the UN Global Plastics Treaty, I participated in a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral panel about the role of plastic alternatives and substitutes within the context of the Plastic Treaty.
26 Apr 2024
Links:
Activity: Invited talk (Invited speaker) - UN Plastics Treaty; UN Multi-stakeholder day
I gave an invited talk on biodegradable plastics at the UN Environment Program's "Capacity development to catalyse actions and commitments at the national and global level to reduce plastic pollution including in the marine environment” held as part of the 4th Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee meeting for a Global Plastics Treaty, (2024) Ottawa, Canada
21 Apr 2024
Activity: Invited talk (Invited speaker) - Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (Publisher)
Independent review of the Ocean Plastics Leadership Networks' briefing "INC-5 Negotiators’ Brief to Harmonized Safety and Sustainability Criteria (HSC)
for Products & Systems (Plastics, Plastic Alternatives, and Non-plastic Substitutes)"
2024
Activity: Publication peer-review (Editorial board member)
2022
- MICRO2022 ; MICRO2024 Conferences
Scientific Committee for the MICRO International Conference (2022, 2024)
2022 →
Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Member of programme committee) - Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics treaty (External organisation)
Active member and co-lead of working groups on 'Microplastics' and 'Alternative plastics/Biodegradable and bio-based plastics'
2022 →
Activity: Membership of network (Member) - Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) (External organisation)
Professional Member of the Society of of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
2022 →
Activity: Membership of network (Member)