Profile
Surrounded by the ocean
I grew up and currently live on an island off the coast of Maine. The ocean has been my passion driving my personal and professional path. I hold a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tasmania and a Master of Philosophy in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic.
Directing microplastics research since 2012, I initiated the first baseline data map of microplastic pollution distribution in Maine. I concluded my work as the Principal Investigator for the Global Microplastics Initiative with Adventure Scientists . Through the help of citizen scientists, we compiled one of the largest global datasets on every ocean and continent in the world, enabling a rare glimpse at the extent of plastic contamination in remote, understudied ocean and fresh waters.
My interests are in research, oyster and seaweed farming, field methodology, education, disruptive innovation, and utilizing scientific data to drive policy and legislation to reduce single-use plastic locally & globally.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Lima, A.R.A., Guilherme, F.V.B., Barrows A.P.W., Christiansen, K.S., Treinish G., Toshack, M.C. (2021) Global patterns for the spatial distribution of floating microfibers: Arctic Ocean as a potential accumulation zone. Journal of Hazardous Materials 403, 123796. doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123796
Documentaries
Antarctica: At the intersection of technology and climate change
National Geographic explorer and film maker, Mike Libecki, travels with Abby Barrows on a recent expedition to Antarctica where they study microplastic pollution and the effects of climate change.
No Days Off-Debunking Bio-plastics
Sasha travels to Maine where she meets up with Marine Research Scientist Abby Barrows who is doing her part in areas of sustainability and conservation.
Featured
Audio
Media
Select Articles
Bangor Daily News: Mushroom buoys could be contender in fight to reduce ocean plastics
Civil Eats: To Cut Ocean Plastic Pollution, Aquaculture Turns to Renewable Gear
DownEast: The Maine Microplastics Researcher Reenvisioning Aquaculture
New York Times: To Study a Problem that’s Everywhere, They’re Getting Creative
Audubon Magazine: Microplastics are Literally Raining on our National Parks and Wilderness Areas
Outside Magazine: I Track My Plastic Use for a Month
The Working Waterfront: Microplastics are everywhere you are, and that’s not good
National Geographic-Explorers Journal: A Firsthand Account of Indonesian Plastic Pollution
The Guardian: WHO launches health review after microplastics found 90% of bottled water
PBS NewsHour: This New York river dumps millions of fabric microfibers into the ocean daily
The Guardian: How your clothes are poisoning our oceans and food supply
The Washington Post: Are synthetic fleece and other types of clothing harming our water?
Books
Weis, J.S., De Falco, F., & Cocca, M. (Eds.). (2022). Polluting Textiles: The Problem with Microfibres (1st ed.). Routledge. Microfibre Methodologies for the Field and Laboratory Chapter 2. Barrows., A.P.W., Neumann, C.A.
