A student from the University of Exeter is appealing for help with her Master's dissertation regarding plastic pollution in the Truro Estuary.

As part of her MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus, Bronwyn Thurston has devised a short questionnaire to gather insights from local residents which can be found here.

Bronwyn decided on studying Truro Estuary following numerous conversations with Cornwall Council, and fellow coursemates who had completed their undergraduate degrees here in Falmouth and highlighted the issue to her. “Having witnessed large amounts of plastics in the estuary myself, I decided to pursue a dissertation project in this field,” she said.

“Truro’s estuarine system is facing increasing pressures from human activities, particularly the accumulation of plastic waste. My project aims to explore the distribution, impacts and public awareness of plastic pollution in the estuary.

“By examining community awareness, behaviours, and concerns, my research seeks to understand not just the physical presence of plastic in the environment, but also the social and human factors contributing to it.

“The questionnaire is designed to gather a wide range of views and experiences from individuals connected to the area. It will complement data from field observations and existing literature by capturing the voices of local individuals.

“The results will help build a more complete picture of how plastic pollution affects the Truro Estuary and how people perceive both the problem and potential solutions.

“This project aligns with the broader goals of my degree program, which reflects growing academic and public concern about plastic pollution’s long-term impact on natural ecosystems and human health.

“Ultimately, through my findings, I aim to contribute to ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness and support practical actions to reduce plastic waste in Cornwall.”

The deadline for responses is June 15. For further information, email [email protected].