Light-absorbing particles (LAPs) and microplastics are small pollutants that can harm the environment and human health. LAPs, like black carbon from burning fuels or dust from land use, make snow and ice melt faster by darkening the surface. Microplastics are tiny bits of broken-down plastic. Both are found in oceans, rivers, and snow, even in the Arctic.

From May to November 2025, we ran a science and education project to study these pollutants in the Arctic. We worked with high school students in Shishmaref, Alaska, an Indigenous community facing rapid climate change. Students received science kits and training to collect and analyze snow and seawater in spring and fall. They used microscopes and a heating tool (LAHM) to measure LAPs. Some samples were sent to labs to identify microplastics.

This hands-on, local approach helped students connect with science in their own community. It also gave them skills and tools to study climate change. On a separate expedition, cruise passengers also used the same sampling tools, helping test how well citizen science works at sea.

The project created new data and showed how place-based education can inspire youth, support communities, and raise awareness of pollution in the Arctic.