Lawmakers announce $1M for Morgan State to Study Microplastics in Chesapeake Bay

MARYLAND (WBFF) -- On Thursday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume announced $999,999 in federal funding for Morgan State University to study the impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems.

The study will be using the Chesapeake Bay as a model.

Officials say in a recent release that the project will create new opportunities for Morgan State students to participate in high-impact Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math research, as well as recruit and support students pursuing doctoral degrees.

Microplastics, meaning very small pieces of plastic debris, can make restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem more difficult, research shows.

“Microplastics pose an urgent threat to the health of oceans and watersheds around the world – especially for the Chesapeake Bay,” the lawmakers said. “This new federal grant funding will help Morgan State University lead the way in microplastics pollution research and accelerate aquatic cleanup efforts. It’s a clear win-win – helping us to improve the health of the Bay while investing in the capabilities of our researchers at Morgan State. We will continue working to secure federal investments for students that expand research opportunities and advance academic development at Maryland’s HBCUs.”

The funding was awarded through the National Science Foundation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Infrastructure in Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) program, which supports STEM research at HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines.