Chelsea Rochman, in particular, has supervised me since the summer after my first year and continues to be an inspiration to me. I would like to thank Chelsea Rochman and Jacob Haney for the remarkable mentorship and opportunities they have provided me throughout the past year. This ROP has taught me a lot about the importance of mitigating plastic pollution and how we can continue to fill gaps in existing research. Quantifying micro- & macroplastics and comparing them to water levels can indicate whether plastic accumulation increases during storm events. This is important because rain and storms are major mobilizing processes for non-point source pollutants, including sediment, nutrients, and pathogens. The quantity and variation of plastics in aquatic streams can vary based on numerous factors, with storms being one potential factor. My work involves studying the effects of precipitation on plastic accumulation in the Don River. The project also involves collaboration with the University of New Hampshire and Loyola University Chicago. I spent the past school year conducting and analyzing research with Rochman Lab at the University of Toronto's Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Last week, I presented my research at the University of Toronto's Research Opportunities Program (ROP) Fair.

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