More than 70% of Earth's surface is covered by the ocean, which holds 97% of all water on the planet. Katharine Owens, Ph.D., a National Geographic Explorer; a Fulbright Nehru fellow; and Professor and Chair of the Department of Politics, Economics, and International Studies at the University of Hartford, has dedicated her research to understanding how the animals living in that water are impacted by human trash, namely plastic.

Dr. Owens comes to UHD at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 23, to the Fondren Commons in the College of Sciences and Technology Building for an eye-opening exploration of how plastic waste affects our oceans and the creatures that call it home. From tangled birds to sea turtles struggling with plastic ingestion, this President’s Lecture unveils the staggering impact of plastic on marine life. Entitled “Entangled and Ingested: How Ocean Trash Threatens Marine Life,” it’s free and open to the public. A complimentary lunch is included.

Dr. Owens will also share her research on beach litter collection and her art, the transformation of unrecyclable plastics into life-sized art pieces portraying ocean animals. It’s a powerful blend of science, conservation, and creativity!

An interdisciplinary scholar who merges science, policy, and the arts on the topic of plastic pollution, Dr. Owens has researched water policy for more than 20 years. Through “Entangled and Ingested,” begun in 2021, Dr. Owens has created more than 50 life-sized animal portraits and partnered with many groups including the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Wesleyan University, Middletown Commission on the Arts, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Integrated Day Charter School, the Virgin corporation, Lindblad Expeditions, the Connecticut Science Center, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, and Mystic Aquarium. Her pieces can be seen at Bradley International Airport, The Connecticut Science Center, the Middletown Parks and Recreation complex, the University of Hartford, and The Free Center.

Following the lecture, she will facilitate a hands-on sewing workshop. Participants will contribute to a life-size portrait of the biggest artwork Dr. Owens has created to date, the 80-foot Fin Whale—one of the hundreds of animals harmed by plastic. This unique project allows the campus community to contribute to a collaborative artwork, fostering a deeper connection to the ocean and its challenges. Everyone who works on the piece will sign the back, creating a lasting record of all who contribute.

Portrait by Erika Larsen