What if the plastic we throw away could tell a story about the animals it harms?
Professor Katharine Owens is doing just that through Entangled and Ingested, an ongoing art project that transforms discarded plastic packaging into vivid, life-size portraits of marine animals affected by pollution.
Combining her background in environmental science and policy with creativity and community collaboration, Owens uses art to make the impacts of single-use plastics impossible to ignore. From sewing life-size whales with students to bringing scientists and schoolchildren together through hands-on workshops, her work encourages people to rethink everyday choices and take action to protect marine life.
Her message goes beyond raising awareness: she hopes to inspire people to speak up, engage with policymakers and help create meaningful change, and recently brought her message to Alaska and Spain!