Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS

Leads International Marine Litter Research Unit at University of Plymouth. Over 20 years researching marine litter and was the first to describe microplastics.

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Delighted to be presenting ⁦@PlymUni⁩ research on plastic pollution at FAO in Rome. Foreboding skies at the start of our meeting on Plastics and one health in agriculture and food- evidence is undeniable plastic pollution occurs along the entire life cycle on land and sea!

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

The millions of microplastic particles we encountered while swimming on holiday in Europe evidence the urgent need for action. Such scenes will become normality for us all if nations fail to agree on decisive steps to end plastic pollution during current UN negotiations in Geneva

[Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones @WinnieCJ]

📢 The science is clear: we need ambitious action across the plastics lifecycle, from production through to disposal. The question is, will countries deliver?

Ahead of the final UN #PlasticTreaty #INC5 talks (4th-16th Aug)
I share my perspectives

https://t.co/WR5oQMONGU

[Marine Institute @PlymUniMI]

🎓Calling aspiring marine researchers with bold ideas!
Our SERVO #PhD studentships empower solutions-driven research addressing global marine challenges — designed by you 🌊
🧪Full funding
🗓Proposals by Oct25
🔗https://t.co/73MZdz21sI
🌍Join us to drive solutions in marine! 🚀

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Delighted to be presenting on this panel at #UNOC3 about the need for robust international standards to help ensure the plastics we use are essential to society, and are far safer and more sustainable than at present. Appropriate labelling can then support trade in those products

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Fantastic to be here at the 1st International Forum of Marine Universities, part of #UNOC 3. Excellent discussions trans disciplinary research bringing together universities globally to address the environmental challenges faced by our oceans and to train the next generation

[Dr Imogen Napper @Imogennapper]

🌊🗑️🛰️ A new life highlight: telling UK Parliament we’re living in a litter sandwich

Plastic below in the ocean, debris above in Earth’s orbit.

I shared how:
1. We need space literacy
2. Prevention > clean-up
3. We must act fast, before we repeat old mistakes

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Fantastic to be part of the @PlymUni team presenting on the potential links between plastic pollution and liver disease at #EASLcongress2025

[EASL Education @EASLedu]

Microplastics may act as endocrine disruptors & affect the gut microbiome.
ℹ️Rise in liver disease parallels increasing marine plastic waste, but is it causal? We don’t know yet.🤷

🤝 Progress will require collaboration: chemists, toxicologists, microbiome researchers & more.

@EASLnews
#EASLcongress #LiverX

[EASL Education @EASLedu]

Microplastics may act as endocrine disruptors & affect the gut microbiome.
ℹ️Rise in liver disease parallels increasing marine plastic waste, but is it causal? We don’t know yet.🤷

🤝 Progress will require collaboration: chemists, toxicologists, microbiome researchers & more.

@EASLnews
#EASLcongress #LiverX

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Delighted to be presenting on plastic pollution at 10th ⁦@OurOceanOOC⁩ Conference. I presented at the 1st hosted by John Kerry. It’s reassuring plastics are in the spotlight but progress is disappointing. We urgently need a strong global treaty to end plastic pollution

[University of Plymouth @PlymUni]

Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, who led the first study using the term microplastics to describe the microscopic fragments of plastic polluting the global ocean, has been named by TIME among its list of the world’s 100 most influential people of 2025.

Find out more: https://t.co/0XeAR2pG2T

📷(c) A.K.Purkiss

[The Naked Scientists @NakedScientists]

It's time for a new series of Titans of Science, kicking off with marine biologist @ProfRThompson of the @PlymUni, who first brought to the world’s attention 20 years ago the problem that is microplastic pollution.

https://t.co/B2QyiPoZST

[Mandy Barker @plasticpieces]

LAST 8 HOURS !!! to PRE-ORDER my new book and prints that will create extra funds allowing me to add gold gilt edges to the pages of ‘Photographs of British Algae' with @GOSTbooks please follow the Kickstarter link here: https://t.co/6PAEk3QKov

[University of Plymouth @PlymUni]

Scientists from University of Plymouth part of ambitious study to explore effects of offshore wind farms on ocean life 🪸🐠🌊🍃
https://t.co/lGYMwlI91e

[Marine Institute @PlymUniMI]

Exciting #PhD #studentship @PlymUni predicting the effects of #heatwaves on intertidal animals using a physiological approach & work with @NaturalEngland to learn how to turn your findings into #policy.

👉https://t.co/Ez5obhN9Ec

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Amazing team of researchers from ⁦@PlymUni⁩, other UK universities and colleagues from across Indonesia meet in Java to collaborate in the ⁦@UKRI_News⁩ ⁦@PISCESnews⁩ GCRF project to help tackle plastic pollution in Indonesia

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Impassioned plea by Panama alongside all high ambition countries at the global plastic treaty negotiations in Busan. We can’t be dragged down by those with low ambition. Treaty must reduce plastic production & address chemicals of concern. Its not a waste a management treaty

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

Just some of the evidence why we need all nations negotiating her in Busan to support a strong treaty to end plastic pollution. For the sake of the planet and future generations we cannot be dragged down by shortsightedness and low ambition

[IndiaSpend @IndiaSpend]

An estimated 10-40 mn tonnes of microplastics enter the environment each year. Once in the environment, #microplastics will be all but impossible to remove; they will persist and continue to have impacts, says @ProfRThompson. Read on: https://t.co/XhlcBxhGGc

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

The 5th session of the Intergovernmental negotiating committee #INC5 opens in Busan. The science is very clear, it’s time to act! Let’s hope the 180+ nations present take this once in a planet opportunity, and agree on a strong and binding treaty to end plastic pollution!

[Prof. Richard C Thompson OBE FRS @ProfRThompson]

What an amazing evening for @PlymUni two finalists awards at Green Gowns 2024 competition in Edinburgh

[Green Gown Awards @greengowns]

Winner of the Research with Impact sponsored by @PraxisAuril:

🏆University of Plymouth🏆

Project: Sources, effects, solutions – alerting the world to microplastics