News

The Robert & MeiLi Hefner Foundation Sponsors The University of Portsmouth to Survey Plastic Pollution Around Great Britain's Waters

August 13, 2020
By Metra Taleghanifard

As one of the Robert & MeiLi Hefner Foundation’s areas of interest, environment & global ecosystem, the foundation sponsored a team of university rowers in the United Kingdom to assess ocean pollution levels around Great Britain. Through the GB Row Challenge 2020, the University of Portsmouth, Department of Marine Biological Sciences will be able to further measure micro plastics, acidity, temperature and acoustic noise pollution levels.

Team Exe Endurow took off rowing from the Tower Bridge in London on July 6 and continue to traverse the country’s coastline for 45 days. The row challenge, arduous in conditions of the ocean’s current and with the team rowing unassisted for over 2,000 miles, is acknowledged to be the toughest rowing race in the world. Robert and MeiLi Hefner, along with the University of Portsmouth, Team Exe Endurow and other sponsors, share the mission and desire to bring awareness of ocean pollution to the rest of the world in an effort to achieve a more sustainable future. To learn more please visit www.gbrowchallenge.com.