Plastic Pollution Working Group Members

Raquel Salvatella de Prada is a multi-media artist and educator and holds and MFA in Computer Arts & New Media from Academy of Arts University. She integrates experimental video and animation with different traditional art forms. Her recent works focus on social and environmental issues. She finds that the combination of digital and physical visual media allows her to reach audiences at an abstract, artistic, and atmospheric level, thereby engaging them with topics to which they might not otherwise open their minds. Raquel’s unique artistic perspective can also benefit science education. In the specific context of the proposed hub, her experience in creating artworks that focus on social and environmental issues will allow her to mentor students to create novel visual narratives that effectively communicate data and research findings on plastic pollution and its impacts. Art makes scientific research more accessible and engaging, fostering conversations beyond academic circles. By forming emotional connections, art can bridge the gap between understanding and action, amplifying research findings for wider public engagement.

Laura Asherman is a documentary filmmaker, using film and stop-motion animation to explore climate change. Her MFA thesis film, The Dumpster Dive, is a hybrid documentary about microplastics told from the perspective of cockroaches.