Plastic Waste and Ethical Science Education: Two Short Essays
Assignment no. 1
Title: Drowning in Plastic Waste
Plastic waste is a broad but critical topic that highlights the urgent need to raise awareness about the pollution we are causing. In Earth’s environment, plastic waste is becoming increasingly dangerous to both wildlife habitats and human health. Plastic has been a global issue since the 20th century and has continued to grow substantially. The undeniable reality is that plastic is consumed in massive quantities worldwide, yet very little is recycled. Unless it is properly processed, the accumulation of plastic waste will continue to harm ecosystems, pollute water sources, and endanger both wildlife and human health.
Two Approaches for Reducing Plastic Waste
The growing volume of plastic in the oceans is a direct result of human negligence, turning our seas into dumping grounds and endangering marine life. This plastic pollution is also contaminating our drinking water through household taps. Most plastic waste is dumped into nearby rivers, eventually flowing into the sea.
There are two main approaches to addressing plastic pollution. The first involves ongoing management strategies already implemented in some countries. These include scientifically supported techniques such as bioremediation and landfilling, which convert waste into useful materials. Recycling is a longstanding and effective method for repurposing unused plastic into valuable products for example, manufacturing medical supplies from plastic waste.
The second approach involves transitioning to plastic-free alternatives. This can be done by producing sustainable replacements such as paper bags in large quantities and raising awareness about replaceable products. Each year, millions of tons of plastic are dumped into oceans, posing a threat to marine animals like turtles and seabirds, which often mistake plastic for food. If we want to preserve a less polluted marine environment, we must act urgently. Reducing our dependence on plastic in daily life, supporting environmental management authorities, limiting plastic production, and increasing taxes or fees on plastic pollutants are all necessary steps toward a cleaner future.
Assignment no. 2
The title of the lecture is “Engaging Power, Ethics and Multiple Ways of Knowing in Science Education,” delivered by Megan Bang. In this lecture, her focus was to raise awareness about the role of science education, emphasizing that it includes both ethical and political dimensions that contribute to building sustainable communities. She also addressed several 21st-century challenges, including how the current geological age is affecting human life, and how communities are striving to remain culturally resilient in the face of ecological and societal pressures.
She relates science education to socio-ecological change, highlighting the role of scientific knowledge in addressing today’s environmental and cultural issues. This field is growing because communities are demanding new ways to engage with uncertainty and make sense of complex global problems. According to her, all teaching and learning must be political and ethical. This approach gives learners the opportunity to think differently and find solutions to real-world challenges.
In my opinion, the lecture is especially relevant to maritime communities. These communities exist within ecosystems where no single indigenous group lives in complete isolation; instead, they interact with various other forces reflected in their way of life. As they adapt to their own cultural and geological contexts, they continue to evolve. For example, Megan Bang referred to cultural variation, epistemic action, and historical influence, showing these through cross-cultural engagement and addressed the settler-colonial triad in her project.
Questions to Consider:
How can one resist indigenous erasure?
How can a community understand its own systems and disciplines?
Yes, I would certainly recommend this lecture to students from maritime communities. It would help them understand the historical roots of their societies. Important cultural elements: such as language, oral traditions, and spiritual beliefs play a foundational role in shaping these communities. Every person has a history, and every history is tied to systems and institutions. These inherited structures shape how people continue to live, learn, and pass down knowledge. The maritime community is distinct in the way it integrates economic systems, cultural practices, and environmental adaptation into daily life, especially through fishing, trade, and interaction with marine ecosystems.