08. Debate

Coordinators: Dr. Patrick DePaolo and Dr. Michael Bonchonsky

The Issue of Microplastics in the Environment

Plastics are highly versatile and are ubiquitous in society, fulfilling a wide array of valuable functions in our economy and daily lives. Their adaptability has led to them being used in consumer products such as cosmetics, cooking utensils and food packaging, among others, as well as in medical devices and construction. Substitute materials must be researched.

While there has been a strong push to ban single-use plastics and develop plastic-free and recyclable packaging and products in recent years, notably as part of the EU’s Plastics Strategy, plastic disposal remains a key threat to our natural environment, and the material is accumulating in our soil and seas in unprecedented amounts. It has been suggested that an extra 33 billion metric tons of plastic will be added to the planet by 2050 and some have suggested the current era may even be referred to as the ‘Plasticene’.

In the environment, plastic breaks down to form microplastics and, at even smaller scales, nanoplastics. Microplastics are also released as part of commercial formulations of a wide variety. The situation regarding such micro concentrations of plastics and associated environmental impacts has not been fully elucidated. Research on this matter is a very fast-moving area. New techniques and methods are currently in development to detect, identify and analyze such small particles and their impacts, in the open environment and in organisms.

Note: EPA researchers define microplastics as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters (mm), which is about the size of a pencil eraser, to 1 nanometer (nm). For comparison, a strand of human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.

The question: Should Microplastics in the environment (especially that intentionally released) be mitigated, restricted or banned in the US

Consider the following:

1. What are microplastics?
2. How has microplastics been detected in the environment?
3. What are the risks associated with microplastics in the environment?
4. What are the economic consequences of banning or heavily regulating microplastics?
5. Should controls, if necessary, be incorporated into regulations?

Part 1 – Conduct general literature research on the issue:

1. Prepare a five-page essay with citations (Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 12 pt.).  The essay must conclude with an advocacy position answering the question of whether Microplastics should be controlled in the environment.  Students must also submit two questions, one for a Pro position opponent and one for a Con position opponent, to ask the opposing team on Event Day.
2. Prepare oral presentations on each side of the debate (YES, Microplastics should be controlled and regulated in the environment, and NO, Microplastics should not be controlled and regulated in the environment).  Students must be prepared to argue either side on Event Day.
3. Optional:  Prepare ONE slide for each side of the debate (YES, NO) that can be displayed during your oral presentation.

The essay should address:

• What are microplastics?
• How have microplastics been detected in the environment?
• What are the risks associated with microplastics in the environment?
• Should the release of microplastics be controlled through regulation or alternative incentivizing systems.
• What are the commercial and economic consequences of a ban or strict regulations?

Part 2 - Each team:

Will be randomly assigned either the YES or NO position by the judges.

Each team must present their assigned position (YES or NO) on the question in a 3 - 5 minute oral presentation, optionally with the ONE slide they prepared on that position

The Judges will ask each team one question about this initial presentation.   Each team will take two minutes to address their question from the Judges.

Each team will ask another team one question (previously submitted by their team) to be answered in one minute, after two minutes of deliberation by the answering team.

Each team must have each member speak at least once during any of the aspects (initial or response to questions asked) of the presentation.  The initial presentation can be done by one member or divided up into sections for different team members, not to exceed the total time as above.

The oral presentation and the submitted essay will be judged pursuant to the following rubric (1 to 5 points for each category):

Clarity and organization

Reasoning and creativity

Use of supporting facts

Reference material

Persuasiveness

Note that providing (brief) examples of mitigation pathways (technical or economic) for microplastics in the environment may also be useful.