Our Mission, Goals, and Values


Our research group is committed to being agents of change. Using an interdisciplinary blend of geology, environmental science, chemistry, and materials science, our mission is to investigate natural and human-made grains to unravel climatic, surficial, and anthropogenic factors that have influenced our planet throughout geological time.

Our overall goals are to: 1) demonstrate how the direct and indirect actions of animals, including humans, have influenced Earth’s past and future rock record, 2) determine the main contributors of plastic debris, and how that waste enters and moves through the environment, and 3) use our results to inform stakeholders (including the public and policy makers) of the urgent actions required to address environmental crises.

Our values: involve using as few plastic and non-recyclable items as possible in our field work and laboratory studies, as well as in our daily lives. We conduct interdisciplinary research with scientists, artists, arts and humanities scholars, educators, social scientists, and engineers, and collaborate with government, the general public, and First Nations communities. We believe that interdisciplinarity is critical for tackling global problems.

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Our History

Dr. Patricia L. Corcoran formed the Laboratory for Where Grains Meet (then referred to as the Facility for Natural and Anthropogenic Grains) in 2009 when she began studying plastic pollution in the environment. Prior to 2009, Patricia’s research focused mainly on the factors controlling the composition of natural sedimentary deposits ranging in age from Archean (> 2.5 Ga) to modern day. Patricia considers debris items (e.g., plastic, sea glass, ceramics) as anthropogenic grains of sediment that become co-mingled with natural sedimentary grains as a result of human activities. To read more about Patricia, click here!
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Our Research Team

Our interdisciplinary research team is committed to uncovering the how and 5 Ws of natural and anthropogenic sediment formation, dispersal, composition, and preservation. We convey our results through public outreach, media, publications, and conversations to make change happen. Click here to meet each team member!







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OUR RESEARCH OUTPUTS

We pride ourselves on producing novel and impactful results. Our outputs focus on a wide array of deposit types, of different ages, and using many sampling and analytical techniques. Click here to view a list of our outputs!













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Field Research

The majority of our projects involve field sampling of rocks, unconsolidated sediment, anthropogenic debris, water, air, and soils. A number of diverse techniques are used for sampling. Click here for more details!


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Resources

In our laboratory, we use state-of-the-art sample processing techniques, as well as on-campus analytical technologies. Click here to see our team and collaborators in action!
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SYNTHETIC COLLECTIVE

Patricia is a founding member of the Synthetic Collective – a group of scientists, artists and cultural workers who aim to raise awareness of plastic pollution in unique ways, thereby reducing and re-using materials using a low carbon footprint. Click here to see their impactful outputs!

Recent News

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Plastic Heart: Surface All the Way Through

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An exhibition at the University of Toronto Art Centre from September 8-November 20, 2021. It links science and art methods to affect thinking regarding environmental science and activism. Some artworks were inspired by the collaborations between artists and scientists who form the Synthetic Collective (Patricia, Sara, Ian, Kelly Jazvac, Kelly Wood, Kirsty Robertson, Heather Davis, Tegan Moore…).

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2024: Sedimentology of Plastics

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In March 2024, Patricia was invited to give a talk at the "Sedimentology of Plastics: state of the art and future directions" meeting in Birmingham, U.K. Her topic, "From Great Lakes to Stormwater Pond Sediment: the implications of microplastic types and abundances through time and space" garnered much discussion (as well as surprise when she mentioned that the entire UK could fit into the Great Lakes!). Patricia met key researchers of plastic pollution and came away with new ideas and methods.

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Contact Us

Let’s talk if:

  • You care about our planet and want to make a difference.

  • You're interested in cutting-edge research on natural and anthropogenic sediment.

  • You believe in the power of science to solve environmental challenges.