Working together to make plastics safer in production, use and once discarded
Our Mission
Plastics are integral to modern life, yet their widespread use and disposal pose a threat to both human health and the environment. At the Plastics Center, we aim to understand and mitigate the harm caused by plastics through transdisciplinary research, education, the arts and policy engagement.
By combining expertise from the sciences, engineering, policy, and arts, we strive to develop innovative solutions that can maximize the good plastics do, reduce plastic pollution, safeguard ecosystems, and improve human health outcomes.
Our Work
Research
Our research spans industries and fields such as environmental science, chemistry, social sciences, and public health, focusing on:
- Developing sustainable engineering solutions and safer materials
- Identifying new ways to address plastic waste through policy and community empowerment
- Understanding ecological and health impacts of plastic pollution
Education
We support Northeastern’s educational mission through:
- Graduate and undergraduate student support through fellowships and research opportunities
- Seminars and workshops on science, policy, and social aspects of plastics
- Course development across various disciplines
Policy Engagement
We bridge the gap between science, policy, and industry by:
- Advising on policy frameworks to reduce plastic waste
- Collaborating with industry leaders on sustainable materials
- Contributing to global plastics treaty negotiations
Global Impact
The Plastics Center is a global leader in the fight against plastic pollution. By collaborating with partners from across Northeastern’s global network and institutions in the Global South, we work to drive research, contribute to global policymaking, and enhance sustainability worldwide.
Our Directors
Dr. Maria Ivanova
I am a professor and Director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University. My work focuses on international environmental governance, sustainability, and the science-policy interface. I wrote The Untold Story of the World’s Leading Environmental Institution: UNEP at Fifty and often work with governments, especially in East Africa, on environmental issues. Originally from Bulgaria, I hold a PhD and a master’s degrees in International Relations and Environmental Management from Yale University.
Dr. Aron Stubbins
I grew up in Wales and received my PhD in Marine Biogeochemistry from Newcastle University (Newcastle, England). After that I did a postdoc at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) before becoming a professor at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (UGA, Savannah, GA). Finally I moved to Northeastern in 2018. I study the natural carbon cycle, how humans are altering it, and plastics in the environment. I see plastics as a novel component of the carbon cycle as well as potential pollutants.
Our Team
College of Science
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Jon Grabowski
Also affiliated with the Coastal Sustainability Institute
Aron Stubbins
Also affiliated with COE Civil and Environmental Engineering, COS Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and the Coastal Sustainability Institute
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Jeff Agar
Also affiliated with Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Diego Alzate-Sanchez
Sijia Dong
Zhenyu Tian
College of Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Matthew Eckelman
Shang Liu
Rain Miao
Amy Mueller
Also affiliated with COS Marine and Environmental Sciences and the Coastal Sustainability Institute
Annalisa Onnis-Hayden
Chemical Engineering
Bryan James
Lucas Landheer
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Benyamin Davaji
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Bill Lenart
Also affiliated with Roux Institute
Yiannis Levendis
College of Social Sciences and Humanities
The Policy School
Maria Ivanova
Moira Zellner
Northeastern London
Diana Bozhilova
Associate Dean of Global Impact and Sustainability; Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations
Sabina Crowe
English
Alison Glassie
Also affiliated with COS Marine and Environmental Sciences
Political Science
Kirsten Rodine Hardy
Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Phil Brown
Also affiliated with CSSH – Sociology & Anthropology and the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute (SSEHRI)
Julia Varshavsky
Also affiliated with Civil and Environmental Engineering
D’Amore-McKim School of Business
John Lowry
Sheila Puffer
College of Arts, Media, and Design
Carmen Hull
Architecture
College of Professional Studies
Yunxin Peng
Arlington Campus
Amanda Welsh
Adel Zadeh
Toronto Campus
Contact Us:
The Plastics Center @ Northeastern University
Support the Plastics Center:
As we work to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, we rely on support from individuals and organizations committed to creating a sustainable future. Please each out for collaborative opportunities.
