"As a scientist, I know one of my most important jobs is not just being in the lab - it’s going out into the community, sharing what I learn with others and translating science.

​We need to help everyone gain a better understanding of the scientific process and how to interpret our data. A better informed public is key to moving science forward in solving global and everyday problems."
​
​- Dr. Sam Athey

Samantha (sam) Athey, phd

Education & Outreach Coordinator
Wilmington, NC

Areas of Expertise

• Marine debris & plastic pollution
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental education

Sam received her B.S. with honors and M.Sc. in Marine Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she conducted research in collaboration with the Plastic Ocean Project on microplastic ingestion in marine species. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto on the sources and environmental fate of microplastics and microfibers in Canadian aquatic environments.

Sam first started as a volunteer with POP in 2015 and quickly became the founding president of the first chapter of the Plastic Ocean Project, UNCW POP. During her tenure as UNCW POP president, she served as campaign director for the Hope Spot: Hatteras initiative (Hope Spot status awarded in fall 2016) and helped design the Ocean Friendly Establishment initiative in collaboration with other community leaders. 

​For her efforts expanding POP's mission within the Wilmington community, she was awarded Lumina News Person of the Year in 2015. Since then, she has served on the Board of Directors (2016-2018) as Director of Chapters & Ambassadors.

Sam currently serves as the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Plastic Ocean Project, where she leads outreach events within the community and develops marine debris education programming for a wide audience.

Education

• UNC-Wilmington, Bachelor in Marine Biology​
• UNC-Wilmington, Masters in Marine Science
• University of Toronto, Ph.D. in Earth Sciences

Publications

• ​Athey, S.N., Albotra, S., Gordon, C., Echevarria, Andrady, A., M., Monteleone, B., Seaton, S., Taylor, A., Brander, S. 2020. The trophic transfer of microplastics from microzooplankton to larval fish. Limnology and Oceanography Letters 5(1), 154-162.
• Grbic, J., Helm, P., Athey, S.N., Rochman, C. 2020. Microplastics entering northwestern Lake Ontario are diverse and linked to urban sources. Water Research 174, 115623.
• Cowger, W., Booth, A.M., Hamilton, B.M., Thaysen, C., Primpke, S., Munno, K., Lusher, A.L., Dehaut, A., Vaz, V.P., Liboiron, M., Devriese, L.I., Hermabessiere, L., Rochman, C., Athey, S.N., et al. 2020. Reporting guidelines to increase the reproducibility and comparability of research on microplastics. Applied Spectroscopy, 000370282093029.
• Athey, S.N., Adams, J.K., Erdle, L.M., Jantunen, L.M., Helm, P.A., Finkelstein, S.A., Diamond, M.L. 2020. The widespread environmental footprint of indigo denim microfibers from blue jeans. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 7(11), 840-847.
• Adams, J.K., Dean, B., Athey, S.N., Jantunen, L.M., Bernstein, S., Stern, G., Diamond, M.L., Finkelstein, S.A. 2021. Anthropogenic particles (including microfibers and microplastics) in marine sediments. Science of the Total Environment, 784, 147155.
• Steinbarger, C.D., Joseph, J., Athey, S.N., Monteleone, B., Andrady, A.L., Watanabe, W.O., Seaton, P., Taylor, A.R., Brander, S.M. 2021. Direct ingestion & trophic transfer of microplastics in early life stages of Centropristis striata, a commercially and recreationally-valuable fishery species. Environmental Pollution 285, 117653.
• Athey, S.N. and L.M. Erdle. Are We Underestimating Anthropogenic Microfiber Pollution? A Critical Review of Occurrence, Methods and Reporting. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 41(4), 822-837.
• Carney Almroth, B., Athey, S.N., Hartmann, N. 2021. Microplastics from textiles as a source of toxic chemical contamination. In J.S. Weis. Polluting Textiles: The Problem with Microfibres. 100-132. New York: Routledge.