The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team is seeking multilingual students for help in identifying and translating marine debris objects found by beach-walkers along the pacific coast. Known as COASST, we train and work with hundreds of volunteers to quantify the sources and human and environmental impacts of marine debris.

Some debris that washes up on originated from other regions including material from the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Slavic and Asian language skills would be especially helpful.Translations help tell the stories of objects that enter the ocean and provide clues to the source and pathways of transport. Many of our volunteers are curious about the things they find and we hope to be able to share with them identifications and translations–sort of a “CSI” for garbage.

The expected time commitment is 1-2 hours per week.

Interested students can contact Hillary Burgess at hkb10@uw.edu to learn more.