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Matthew Hoffman

Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Matthew Hoffman is taking his mathematical models from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron to help map and assess microplastic pollution in Georgian Bay.

RIT experts are at the forefront of research that aims to better understand the impact of microplastics on the environment. RIT’s interdisciplinary microplastics team has received nearly $10 million in funding since 2020.

The new funds are on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program’s $23 million investment to intercept and remove marine debris with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

A team of researchers at RIT is expanding its work in studying the impact of marine debris beyond the Rochester region and into nearby Great Lakes communities.

WXXI's Connections with Evan Dawson interviews Christy Tyler, professor in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, and Matthew Hoffman, professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, about their research on microplastics.

WXXI talks to Christy Tyler, professor in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, and Matthew Hoffman, professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, about their research on microplastics.

RIT is spearheading a transformative $7.3 million research hub in collaboration with the University of Rochester. The center will study the lifecycle of microplastics, including its origin as plastic waste, distribution, and movement in the Great Lakes freshwater ecosystem.

Salwan Georges of The Washington Post visited the RIT campus for a pair of lectures, including one that detailed his work photographing climate change for a project that received a Pulitzer Prize.

RIT and the Seneca Park Zoo Society will hold a special event at the Port of Rochester from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 15, to educate members of the public on how they can address plastic pollution and showcase some of the latest technology in the field.

WXXI’s “Connections” program features Matthew Hoffman, associate professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences.

WXXI’s “Connections” program features Matthew Hoffman, associate professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences.

RIT has an emerging new hotspot for interdisciplinary research about 25 minutes from the main campus. The Tait Preserve includes a 60-acre lake and a private mile of Irondequoit Creek adjacent to Ellison Park, offering endless opportunities for research, education, and conservation activities.