Facilities Tour Highlights International Collaboration between NOAA and Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology

OCT. 17, 2022 — Following the 7th International Marine Debris Conference, held Sept. 19-23 in Busan, South Korea, NOAA Marine Debris Program Chief Scientist Amy V. Uhrin was invited to tour the facilities at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology's South Sea Research Institute on Geoje Island, South Korea.

A person standing in front of a vessel.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Chief Scientist, Amy Uhrin, in front of KIOST's flagship research vessel, the R/V Isabu. Image credit: KIOST.

The tour included the institute's spectacular research vessel, the R/V Isabu, as well as outdoor experimental systems where staff are conducting experiments on the weathering and degradation of polystyrene aquaculture buoys. The tour also highlighted the institute's state of the art analytical capabilities for characterizing plastic polymers. NOAA researchers collaborate with researchers from the institute on projects supported through the Joint Project Agreement between NOAA and the Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.   

Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:40pm PST