How Curiosity Changed Environmental Health Policy (featuring Dr. Richard Thompson)

Microplastics are everywhere, from our oceans and ecosystems to our food, water, and bodies, but their story began with a simple question: what are we missing? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Richard Thompson, marine biologist at the University of Plymouth and the scientist who coined the term microplastics. Tune in to hear how curiosity led to a landmark discovery, why plastic pollution is fundamentally a design problem that affects public health, and why science must now shift from defining the problem to rigorously testing solutions. Dr. Richard Thompson is a Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth and a leading authority on plastic pollution. His research has shaped global understanding of microplastics and informed major policies to improve environmental health, including the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and legislation banning microbeads in cosmetics. As an independent scientist, his work guides policymakers, industry, and the public toward safer and more sustainable use of plastics.

You can listen to How Curiosity Changed Environmental Health Policy (featuring Dr. Richard Thompson) online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How Curiosity Changed Environmental Health Policy (featuring Dr. Richard Thompson) is an episode from LearnOn Podcast: The Science Show By Kids, For Kids! by Jaansi Patel.

This episode is 00:25:06 long.

This episode was published on Dec 25, 2025.

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