*We are not currently accepting new volunteers*

Thank you very much for your interest in the Floating Ocean Ecosystem Tracker project. This project works with a great community of collaborators to study the animals and plants living on floating plastic litter in the open ocean.

Our volunteer scientists collect floating plastic in an area of the Pacific Ocean commonly known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. If you have a boat and plan to cross the Pacific from California to Hawaii or vice versa, you may be able to join in the effort! While on your journey, you would collect floating plastics and sample the attached animals and plants following a provided Smithsonian protocol. If you would like to participate, please answer the questions below. Once we’ve received your response, we’ll contact you with more information.