![Rubbish on the beach the sea](/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image_1500x330/public/2020-06/photo-1572213426852-0e4ed8f41ff6.jpg?itok=724GcNA-)
Wicked Problem of Plastics and the Discourse Surrounding its Governance
This project seeks to improve how we use and dispose of plastic by looking at how we talk about plastic.
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/@antoinegiret
A GCRF Global Engagement Network
![GCRF logo](/sites/default/files/styles/400xauto/public/2020-06/GCRF.jpg?itok=c3bdOg_8)
How we perceive plastic has changed drastically in the previous half-century even as its use has become more widespread, from a world-changing opportunity to an environmental catastrophe. It is the very durability of plastic that makes it so useful for preserving food and maintaining hygiene that also makes disposing of it one of the key global challenges recognised for their fiendish complexity as “wicked problems” requiring multiple types of solutions to be developed by multiple academic disciplines and sectors of society.
This project seeks to improve how we use and dispose of plastic by looking at how we talk about plastic. It examines how local and national governments and organisations frame written, visual and verbal communication about plastic and asks how this can be translated into behaviour change and activism that leads to better laws and more effective governance.
The project investigates these discourses to learn how the “plastics story” is told in different countries and how this influences consumers, activists, regulators and other key decision-makers.
This project is funded under the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Research Networking Scheme: 2019 Global Challenges Research Fund Highlight Notice for International Development.
Project team
Principal Investigators
![Oguge](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-06/oguge2.jpg?itok=rNTlU6MA)
Professor Nicholas Oguge
Principal Investigator, Network Director
![Rosalind Malcolm](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-01/Rosalind%20Malcolm_3820.jpg?itok=bkSLlSKB)
Professor Rosalind Malcolm
Co-principal Investigator, Network Co-director
UK team
![Itziar Castello Molina](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-05/Itziar%20Castello%20Molina.jpg?itok=GAQTZoHs)
Dr Itziar Castello Molina
Co-investigator (leading on communications component)
![Noreen O'Meara](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-01/Noreen%20O%27Meara.jpg?itok=tdq5mycr)
Dr Noreen O'Meara
Co-investigator (leading on legal component)
![](/themes/custom/surrey/assets/dist/img/profile_default_150x150.jpg)
Dr Matthew Peacock
Research Fellow
Caribbean team
![Prof Tony Clayton](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Professor%20Anthony%20Clayton.jpeg?itok=KGiiwKCZ)
Professor Anthony Clayton
Project Partner
![Dr Andrea Clayton](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Clayton%20A%28Headshot%29%20smaller.jpg?itok=4B9iF2El)
Dr Andrea Clayton
Project Partner
![Kwame Emmanuel](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-05/Kwame%20Emmanuel.png?itok=-Yo2oVg8)
Dr Kwame Emmanuel
Legal and Communications Expert
Denmark team
![Prof Maj Andersen](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-05/Maj%20Andersen.png?itok=2m-MGWuE)
Professor Maj Andersen
Representative
Ethiopia team
![Ethiopia](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Ethiopia%20flag%20map.png?itok=27tZII4i)
Professor Belay Simane
Project Partner
![Ethiopia](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Ethiopia%20flag%20map.png?itok=27tZII4i)
Abduljelil Ahmedin Rida
Communications Expert
![Ethiopia](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Ethiopia%20flag%20map.png?itok=27tZII4i)
Yohannes Geleta Sida
Research Assistant
Kenya team
Dr Francis Oremo
Network Manager
![Kenya](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag-map_of_Kenya.svg_.png?itok=7J-GwZGh)
Dr James Oranga
Project Partner
![picture of Salome Adhiambo](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-06/Salome.jpg?itok=mxWgdlgr)
Salome Ondigo
Project Assistant
![Kenya](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag-map_of_Kenya.svg_.png?itok=7J-GwZGh)
Miriam Bomett
Kenya Association of Manufacturers Representative
![Kenya](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag-map_of_Kenya.svg_.png?itok=7J-GwZGh)
Irene Maithya
Research Assistant
![Kenya](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag-map_of_Kenya.svg_.png?itok=7J-GwZGh)
Hellen Adhiambo Omondi
Communications Expert
Malawi team
![Thoko Kaime photo](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-07/Thoko%20Kaime%20headshot%20trimmed.jpg?itok=LLIPRaqM)
Professor Thoko Kaime
Project Partner
![Isabelle Zundel profile pic](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-07/Isabelle%20Zundel%20headshot.jpg?itok=BnFlfzTx)
Isabelle Zundel
Communications and Legal Expert
![Kisunge Kaime head shot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-07/Tisunge%20Kaime%20trimmed.png?itok=Uflvbsfe)
Tisungeni Tikhalenawo Kaime
Co-partner
Rwanda team
![Rwanda](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Rwanda%20Flag%20map.svg_.png?itok=ITb3Ezv8)
Dr Aime Tsinda
National Representative
![Rwanda](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Rwanda%20Flag%20map.svg_.png?itok=ITb3Ezv8)
Dr Marie Rose Turamwishimye
Communications and Legal Expert
Sweden team
![Sweden](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag-Map_of_Sweden.png?itok=E7C28o1q)
Dr Carl Dalhammar
Project Partner
![Sweden](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag-Map_of_Sweden.png?itok=E7C28o1q)
Dr Leonidas Milios
Representative
Tanzania team
![Tanzania](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag%20map%20Tanzania.png?itok=YtU8CQOJ)
Dr Alex Kisingo
Head of Research and Consultancy Department
![Tanzania](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/Flag%20map%20Tanzania.png?itok=YtU8CQOJ)
Sia Jeremia Temu
Research Assistant
Uganda team
![Uganda](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/uganda-flag%20map%20flat.png?itok=cX3B8MWv)
Dr Lynn Atuyambe
Project Partner
![Uganda](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/uganda-flag%20map%20flat.png?itok=cX3B8MWv)
Harriet Adong
Communications Expert
![Uganda](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-04/uganda-flag%20map%20flat.png?itok=cX3B8MWv)
Felix Walyawula
Legal Expert