05/07/2026
Earth Day may have passed, but the conversation shouldn’t.
On May 7, 2004, marine biologist Richard Thompson published research that introduced the world to a term many of us now know all too well: microplastics.
What began as a troubling discovery in the oceans has since become a global reality. These microscopic plastic particles have now been found in Arctic ice, deep ocean ecosystems, wildlife, and even the human body. Researchers continue to uncover the long-term impact these materials may have on our health and environment.
One of the most sobering truths from Thompson’s work is this: nearly every conventional plastic ever created still exists somewhere on this planet.
At E.A. Young Academy, we believe education should do more than prepare scholars for tests and transcripts. It should prepare them to think critically about the world they are inheriting. Curiosity leads us to ask difficult questions. Compassion calls us to care about the consequences. Agency reminds us that informed people can create meaningful change. And that's just what our students did.
This reel is a reminder that awareness matters. Small choices matter. And the next generation of innovators, scientists, policymakers, and problem-solvers is already sitting in classrooms today.
