Richard Thompson (marine biologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Thompson
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| Born |
Richard C. Thompson
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| Alma mater | University of Newcastle (BSc) University of Liverpool (PhD) |
| Awards | Volvo Environment Prize (2022) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Marine biology Microplastics |
| Institutions | University of Plymouth |
| Thesis | The Ecology of Epilithic Microalgae (1996) |
Richard Charles Thompson OBE FRS is a marine biologist who researches marine litter. At the University of Plymouth he is director of the Marine Institute; professor of Marine Biology; and leads the International Marine Litter Research Unit. Thompson coined the term "microplastics" in 2004.
Education
Thompson was educated at University of Newcastle and the University of Liverpool where he was awarded a Ph.D in 1996.
Career and research
Thompson's paper, Lost at Sea: Where is All the Plastic?, published in the journal Science in 2004, was the first to use the term microplastics, which has since become common parlance.
Since 2010 he has been professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth. Since 2018 he has also been director of the Marine Institute, part of the School of Biological and Marine Sciences at the University. He also leads the University's International Marine Litter Research Unit.
Publications
- Thompson, Richard. (2006). Plastics. In: Dominant Wave Theory. By Andrew Hughes. Pp. 112–116. London: Booth-Clibborn, 2006. ISBN: 9781861542847. New York: Abrams, 2007. ISBN: 9780810993099.
- "Marine Strategy Framework Directive: TaskGroup 10 Report: Marine Litter." Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. Galgani, F., Fleet, D., van Franeker, J., Katsanevakis, S., Maes, T., Mouat, J.Oosterbaan, L., Poitou, I., Hanke, G., Thompson, R., Amato, E., Birkun A., and Janssen, C. ISBN: 978-92-79-15653-3.
- Marine Debris as a Global Environmental Problem: Introducing a solutions based framework focused on plastic: A STAP Information Document: November 2011. Washington, DC: Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, Global Environment Facility, 2011. Richard C. Thompson, Bruce E. La Belle, Hindrik Bouwman, and Lev Neretin. Thompson was lead author.
- Impacts of Marine Debris on Biodiversity: Current status and Potential Solutions. CBD Technical Series No. 67. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel—GEF, 2012. ISBN: 92-9225-444-8. Thompson was lead author.
- Readman, J.W., DeLuna, F. Ebinhaus, R., Guzman, A.N., Price A.R.G., Readman, E.E. Sheppard, A.L.S., Sleight, A.S. Strum, R. Thompson, R.C. Tonkin, A.Wolschke, H., Wright, R., and Sheppard, R.C. (2013) Coral Reefs of the World.
- Thompson, R.C. (2013) Plastics, Environment and Health. In: Accumulation: The Material Politics of Plastics. Edited by Gabrys, J., Hawkins, G. and Michael, M. Hardback: Routledge, 2013. ISBN: 9780415625821. Paperback: Routledge, 2017. ISBN: 9781138063068. Pp. 150–169.
Awards and honours
- 2016: Marsh Award for Marine and Freshwater Conservation from the Zoological Society of London and Marsh Christian Trust
- 2018: Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to marine science
- 2020: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
- Volvo Environment Prize (2022)
- Blue Planet Prize (2023)
