Southampton scientists pedal to fight microplastics on epic challenge

A team from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is cycling from Southampton to Liverpool this weekend, raising awareness about microplastics and funding crucial equipment to fight ocean pollution.

Nearly 30 NOC staff, including scientists, engineers, and support members, are tackling 260 miles and nearly 3,900m of hills. Their route passes through eight counties with overnight stops in Cirencester and Much Wenlock.

Charmaine Richardson, Innovation Centre Coordinator at NOC, who is based in Itchen, explained the inspiration behind the challenge: “We were inspired by a group of NOC staff who cycled from Liverpool to Southampton in 2017, and decided to do the reverse, raising awareness and money for specialist equipment to protect the ocean.”

She added: “We’re all passionate about combating ocean challenges like microplastics, and even though it’s daunting – most of us are amateur cyclists – the support has been incredible and it’s driving us forward.”

The three-day ride will see the team cover 80 miles on the first two days and 90 miles on the final leg to Liverpool. The team is also taking part in the ‘Love to Ride September’ challenge, boosting their training miles in hopes of topping the Southampton leaderboard.

NOC’s riders represent a mix of nationalities, including British, Irish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino. They come from various departments, including robotics, engineering, procurement, and software development.

The ride is supported by sponsors such as Nortek, Robosys Automation, and University of Southampton’s Atrium. British Cycling also assisted in planning the route.

To support the cause, donations can be made through their fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/noccyclechallenge.