Overview
Stephen is an early career British marine scientist driven to contribute to marine conservation through effective research and communication. He studied to gain a first-class bachelors degree with honours in marine biology from Bangor University (Wales) in 2016 and a distinction level masters degree in sustainable aquaculture from the University of Stirling (Scotland) in 2017. These qualifications provided Stephen with a strong knowledgebase and skill-set relating to both marine ecosystems and marine industry. He is now working towards his PhD, jointly based between the University of Queensland (Australia) and the University of Exeter, titled "Exploring the nanoscale surface interactions of microplastics in natural waters". With this project he's hoping to further understanding about how variation in the surface layers of microplastics in natural waters (eco-coronas) influence their behaviour in and impact to aquatic ecosystems.
Qualifications
2019 - Present | PhD in Marine Ecotoxicology | University of Exeter and The University of Queensland
2016 - 2017 | MSc in Sustainable Aquaculture | University of Stirling
2013 - 2016 | BSc in Marine Biology | Bangor University
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Publications
Journal articles
Burrows S, Olive R, O'Brien S, Galloway T (2022). Connection is key when there's no planet B: the need to innovate environmental science communication with transdisciplinary approaches. Science of the Total Environment, 853, 158435-158435.
Okoffo ED, O'Brien S, O'Brien JW, Tscharke BJ, Rauert C, Rødland ES, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Toapanta T, Mueller JF, et al (2022). Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids.
Sci Total Environ,
811 Abstract.
Author URL.
Burrows SD, Ribeiro F, O'Brien S, Okoffo E, Toapanta T, Charlton N, Kaserzon S, Lin CY, Tang C, Rauert C, et al (2022). The message on the bottle: Rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use.
Environmental Science and Policy,
132, 109-118.
Abstract.
Toapanta T, Okoffo ED, Ede S, O'Brien S, Burrows SD, Ribeiro F, Gallen M, Colwell J, Whittaker AK, Kaserzon S, et al (2021). Influence of surface oxidation on the quantification of polypropylene microplastics by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry.
Sci Total Environ,
796 Abstract.
Author URL.
Okoffo ED, O'Brien S, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Toapanta T, Rauert C, O'Brien JW, Tscharke BJ, Wang X, Thomas KV, et al (2021). Plastic particles in soil: state of the knowledge on sources, occurrence and distribution, analytical methods and ecological impacts.
Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts,
23(2), 240-274.
Abstract.
Okoffo ED, Donner E, McGrath SP, Tscharke BJ, O'Brien JW, O'Brien S, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Toapanta T, Rauert C, et al (2021). Plastics in biosolids from 1950 to 2016: a function of global plastic production and consumption.
Water Res,
201 Abstract.
Author URL.
O'Brien S, Okoffo ED, Rauert C, O'Brien JW, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Toapanta T, Wang X, Thomas KV (2021). Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust.
J Hazard Mater,
416 Abstract.
Author URL.
Burrows SD, Frustaci S, Thomas KV, Galloway T (2020). Expanding exploration of dynamic microplastic surface characteristics and interactions.
TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry,
130 Abstract.
Okoffo ED, Tscharke BJ, O'Brien JW, O'Brien S, Ribeiro F, Burrows SD, Choi PM, Wang X, Mueller JF, Thomas KV, et al (2020). Release of Plastics to Australian Land from Biosolids End-Use.
Environ Sci Technol,
54(23), 15132-15141.
Abstract.
Author URL.
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