Austin Gray joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about microplastics and the growing body of research about their impact on human and environmental health. He shared insights related to the public perception of plastic pollution, the history of microplastics, and the direction of future research. Gray also emphasizes the importance of approaching research as public service and the need for effective science communication.Gray is an assistant professor of biological sciences and an affiliate of Virginia Tech’s Global Change Center. His research focuses on addressing questions related to environmental toxicology. He primarily uses physiological and ecological approaches to examine the impacts of legacy and emerging contaminants (microplastics, nanoplastics, and pharmaceuticals) resulting from human influence and assessing their risk to a variety of freshwater and marine organisms.

Francesco Ferretti joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the state of shark populations worldwide and the knowledge gaps that challenge conservation strategies. Ferretti explained the role of sharks in the larger marine ecosystem, the challenges of gathering data on shark populations, and the role citizen scientists can play in overcoming that challenge.

Ferretti is an assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. His research interests include characterizing the history of human impact in the ocean to better understand how this has altered marine ecosystems and develop solutions for a sustainable use of marine resources. His research spans from macro-ecology to applied management and conservation with a special focus on sharks and their relatives.

Landon Marston joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the relationship between data centers and water usage. Marston explained the amount of water used by data centers, what they’re doing with it, and the reality of national and local impacts. He also shared aspects localities might consider before welcoming a new center.Marston is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he specializes in water resources engineering. His research focuses on the sustainability of water systems and the complex interconnections between water, energy, food, and infrastructure.#virginiatech #datacenter #waterusage #waterquality #techexplained #environmentalimpact