Empowering citizen scientists to track and together prevent marine pollution.

The Testing Our Waters project offers a multi-pronged, design centered approach to reducing the accumulation of plastics in local waterways and international oceans through active community engagement and policy change. We will be designing, aggregating, and hopefully inspiring the creation of Do It Yourself (DIY) trawls for citizen scientists to make and use in their nearby marine environments. Pollution collected in the trawls will be documented via a smartphone application and uploaded to a website platform. Results will build an online engaged community, regularly notify environmental stewards of the problem, and propose policy changes.

We are collaborating with 5Gyres and NyNjBayKeeper and have been awarded grant funding from the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School and the Autodesk Foundation.


DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) TRAWLS

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Re3dp TRAWL

The re3DP Trawl is designed to be fixed in a strong current or to be pulled by a boat.

The trawl is made from two 3D printed components. Future improved versions will be available for open source download and modification. 

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BRIDGE TRAWL

The trawl is designed for dangling from a bridge of other location above the water.

Made from a 5 gallon bucket rim and recycled bottle (for weight). 

Recycled TRAWL

The Recycled Trawl is designed to be fixed in a strong current or to be pulled by a boat. It can be also fixed to a kayak/canoe

The trawl is made from waste steel scrap and plastic bottles. Future improved versions will be to 3D print this trawl out of recycled plastic.

BUOY TRAWL

The Buoy Trawl is designed to be fixed in a strong current or to be pulled by a boat.

The trawl is made from four 3D printed components. Future improved versions will be available for open source download and modification. 

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RAY TRAWL

The Ray Trawl is designed to be fixed in a strong current or to be pulled by a boat.

The trawl is made from two 3D printed components. Future improved versions will be available for open source download and modification. 

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HARDWARE TRAWL

The Hardware Trawl can be made from less than $40 in off the shelf hardware store parts. Designed by Marcus Eriksen, co-founder of 5Gyres.org.