Obstacle or Opportunity? Transforming Plastic Pollution into Smart Business on Central America’s MesoAmerican Reef

The Center for the Blue Economy presents:
Obstacle or Opportunity? Transforming Plastic Pollution into Smart Business on Central America’s MesoAmerican Reef

Speaker: Ms. Jillian Flavin, M.B.A. & M.A. International Environmental Policy Candidate ‘18, Business, Sustainability & Development, Middlebury Institute of International Studies

Event Information
Tuesday, October 10
6:00pm-7:30pm
McGowan Building, Room 102
Part of the Ocean and Coastal Resource Management Lecture Series
Free, open to the public, no registration required

About the Topic: Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans have increased dramatically and are causing harm to delicate ecosystems, economies and livelihoods. Of the 6.3 billion tons of plastic waste that have been generated, only 9% has been recycled, sending billions of tons of plastic to landfills, the natural environment and into our oceans. Think Beyond Plastic is working in the Bay Islands of Honduras, nestled within the second largest barrier reef in the world, to reduce plastic pollution through market-based and business driven solutions. Learn how entrepreneurship, policy, and education are progressing the new plastics economy in a region rich with beauty and rife with challenges.

About the Speaker: Jillian worked in environmental science, environmental health and sustainable business before pursuing her MBA & MA in International Environmental Policy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in 2016. She has explored local and global environmental issues including: the effectiveness of marine protected areas in Belize’s Mesoamerican Reef, water quality in Costa Rica and California, ecology and biodiversity in Ecuador, sustainable agricultural practices in Latin America and the U.S. and opportunities for on-site water generation in Perú and Australia. Her most recent project with Think Beyond Plastic Innovation Accelerator brought her to the Bay Islands of Honduras to identify market-based solutions to plastic contamination in the region. Jillian enjoys thrift shopping, reusable straws and bamboo cutlery. She also loves to travel, hike, ski, bike, speak Spanish and “get outside” whenever possible. Jillian received her B.S. in Environmental Science from CSU, Monterey Bay.

Lecture Location: The McGowan Building is located at 411 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, on the campus of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Attendees will enter through the glass doors from Pacific street, and room 102 is located inside to the right. The McGowan Building is indicated as #20 on the campus map.

Parking: Parking is available in any Middlebury Institute campus lot after 5pm or on the street (time limits on surrounding streets end at 6pm).

Questions: Contact Rachel Christopherson at the Center for the Blue Economy at cbe@miis.edu or 831-647-6615 x1.