FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2025
UW-Green Bay Receives $330,000 Grant from SC Johnson to Study Microplastics in Lake Michigan
Green Bay, WI – Microplastics have been found everywhere – from the top of Mount Everest to the trenches of the sea. It’s no wonder the tiny fragments of plastic have also been found in the Great Lakes. To better understand the impact microplastics can have on the aquatic life in the Great Lakes region, UW-Green Bay has received a $330,000 grant from SC Johnson to study microplastics found in fish from Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay. The project will look at how often fish swallow these plastics, where the biggest problem areas are and what kinds of plastics are most common.
“With support from SC Johnson, UW-Green Bay is going to both build out research in an understudied area and give our students skills that they’ll carry into their careers.” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “This is a great step forward for our region. It’s public-private partnerships improving student outcomes, the natural environment and community health.”
Microplastics are fragments of plastic that are typically smaller than five millimeters–about the size of a sesame seed. Microplastics can result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Due to their size, they are difficult to remove, and they can accumulate in the environment.
A team led by Patrick Forsythe, UW-Green Bay’s Herbert Fisk Johnson professor of Environmental Studies, will collect fish at regular sites around the lake and bay. In the lab, researchers will examine stomach contents with microscopes and lab tests to identify the size and type of plastic. The results will help show where microplastics build up and how they may move through the food web.
“Students are always drawn to hands‑on, applied projects that benefit the public,” said John Katers, dean of the College of Science, Engineering & Technology. He added that students will work directly with faculty on interdisciplinary research that contributes to scientific knowledge, exactly the type of high-impact learning experience the University seeks to provide.
The grant will also support student learning. Funding will help pay for a postdoctoral researcher, a master’s student and several undergraduates. Students will gain hands-on experience in the field and the lab and may publish reports and research papers.
“Plastic is one of the most unique materials that’s brought many benefits to human life. But it is also a pollutant that is affecting planetary, animal and human health,” said Alex Abraham, chief communications officer at SC Johnson. “We have worked for decades as a company to bring solutions to this issue, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The research that UW-Green Bay is doing on microplastics is critical to identifying solutions, and we’re pleased to support students who understand the urgency of this problem.”
Forsythe hopes to begin the hiring process for researchers immediately, with work to take place in 2026 and 2027, and publication of findings in 2028.
About SC Johnson
Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin USA, SC Johnson believes that a more sustainable, healthier and transparent world that inspires people and creates opportunities isn’t just possible – it’s our responsibility.
A heritage of innovation and bold, transparent decisions is why our high-quality products and iconic brands – including OFF!®, Raid®, Glade®, Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, method®, Autan®, Baygon®, Mr Muscle®, Duck®, Lysoform® and more – are in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country worldwide.
As a global, purpose-led company, we are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations. That means relentlessly bringing our expertise in science, innovation and partnerships to bear on some of the world’s most pressing environmental and health issues like reducing plastic waste and eradicating malaria. Around the world, we use our resources to unlock greater economic and educational opportunities for people and communities where access may be limited, but curiosity and potential are limitless.
See how SC Johnson is a Family Company At Work For a Better World by visiting scjohnson.com or joining us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
About UW-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a school of resilient problem solvers who dare to reach higher with the power of education that ignites growth and answers the biggest challenges. Serving 11,500 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as 100,000 continuing education learners annually, UW-Green Bay offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates. With four campus locations in Northeast Wisconsin, the University’s access mission welcomes all students who want to learn, from every corner of the world. Championing bold thinking since opening its doors in 1965, it is a university on the rise – Wisconsin’s fastest growing UW. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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