KYLE WESTON

PhD Student

Research Title: The Accumulation and Persistence of Plastic Pollutants in Tropical Urban Lentic Freshwater Sediments
Research Group: Tropical Environmental Change (TEC)
Thesis Advisor: Prof David Taylor

I am interested in the interactions between humans and freshwater ecosystems, driven by my belief that effective environmental stewardship is a duty and essential component of a healthy society.

During my undergraduate and Master's studies, I explored climate and lake environment history in the United Kingdom, focusing on fossil chironomids preserved in lake sediments. My PhD however delves into the pollution history of lakes, with a particular emphasis on microplastics and phthalate esters. These pollutants are known for their harmful effects yet lack comprehensive data on their long-term behaviour in the environment. I aim to analyse sediment records from tropical freshwater lakes to understand how these contaminants accumulate and persist in such environments. Through this work, I hope to put a spotlight on the risks of plastic production and mismanagement in the hope of protecting these critical ecosystems and the people that rely on them.