In April 2011 I was assigned to join a sailing trip through the South Pacific, from Valdivia to Easter Island, accompanying a 5 Gyres expedition studying plastic pollution. It was one of the most profound and eye-opening experiences I have ever had.

During the trip I reported on the trip’s findings, the work of scientists aboard, and curiosities of the places we visited. The full archive of stories can be found here.

Published in TreeHugger.com on April 2011.