The Highlands Biological Foundation concludes its 2026 Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, a long-running summer tradition that connects the community with leading voices in science, conservation and the natural world, with a discussion on microplastics research in Southern Appalachia on Thursday, Aug. 6, with Jason Love, associate director of the Highlands Biological Station.
Microplastics are a growing environmental and human health concern, with recent research revealing their presence in even the most remote natural areas. In this informative presentation, Love will provide an overview of plastic pollution and the growing body of research documenting microplastics in the Southern Appalachian region. Attendees will learn how tiny plastic particles are transported through the atmosphere and deposited across the landscape, where they accumulate in soils, forested headwater streams, valley rivers and both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. The program will also highlight research conducted by Highlands Biological Station and collaborating scientists, offering insight into the extent of plastic pollution on the plateau and its potential implications for ecosystems and human communities.
Jason Love has served as Associate director of Highlands Biological Station at Western Carolina University, since 2019 and is also an adjunct assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches for the Institute for the Environment Program Highlands field site.
HBF welcomes all to join the final lecture of the 2026 Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, a perfect opportunity to learn, engage and be inspired by the natural world. Admission is free.