HPU's inaugural in-person Marine Debris Circularity Academy launches this summer on the island of Oahu.
HPU's Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR) is set to host its inaugural in-person Marine Debris Circularity Academy this summer on Oahu. The series of short courses is designed to promote sustainable solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis, with a focus on creating a “circular economy for plastics” in Hawai‘i and beyond.
Aimed at industry professionals, early-career ocean professionals, and those in the plastics recycling and production sectors, the Academy emphasizes innovative approaches to addressing marine debris. The courses integrate practical fieldwork, cutting-edge laboratory techniques, and industry-focused discussions to turn plastic waste into valuable resources.
“Hawai‘i faces a unique marine debris problem, with tons of derelict fishing gear from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch washing up on its shores every year,” said HPU Post-Doctoral Fellow at CMDR Joshua Forakis, Ph.D. “Through these courses, we aim to encourage the exchange of ideas and sustainable practices related to plastic products. Ultimately, our goal is to create value from discarded fishing gear by transforming it into long-lasting infrastructure products in Hawai‘i, such as roads, concrete, and decking materials.”
Forakis is a former high school biology teacher with experience in project-based learning and is an integral part of the team that has developed the courses.
The Marine Debris Circularity Academy will feature three specialized courses:
- Microplastics Quantification (June 2–5, 2025): Participants will learn advanced methods to sample, process, and analyze microplastics using state-of-the-art tools like µFTIR, µRaman, and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
- Forensically Deconstructing Marine Debris (June 23–26, 2025): This course provides hands-on training in identifying polymers and analyzing plastic additives using spectroscopic and thermal techniques, offering insights into the composition and environmental implications of marine debris.
- Recycling Marine Debris (July 21–24, 2025): Focusing on transforming marine debris into viable raw materials, this course explores recycling methods and innovative product development, with an emphasis on infrastructure applications.
Each course will include field excursions to Oahu’s coasts and tours of the Plastic Recycling Research Facility in Honolulu and CMDR’s labs in Waimānalo. Participants will also gain practical experience in sample collection and analysis, engage with experts, and collaborate on sustainable solutions tailored to their local contexts.
The CMDR courses are funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) (TIPC) grant program. The TIPC assists universities to create programs that train people to discover and develop solutions to problems presented by our current approaches to the production and consumption of plastics.
This project is in collaboration with NIST Circular Economy Program.
For more information on the Marine Debris Circularity Academy and to register today for courses, click here. A limited number of scholarships are available. For information, .
