Erin Murphy, an alumna of the University of Illinois, School of Integrative Biology (B.S., 2013), has been at the forefront of marine conservation through her leadership role at Ocean Conservancy. As the manager of a study published in 2025, Murphy and her team revealed that small amounts of plastic can be lethal to ocean animals, highlighting the widespread and alarming reach of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems.
The comprehensive study analyzed data collected over decades from global sources, documenting plastic ingestion in species focusing on seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals to identify lethal thresholds for these groups. For example, just 6 pieces of rubber, each smaller than a size of a pea, are enough to kill 90 percent of seabirds. This research underscore the pervasive threat plastics pose to ocean health, affecting biodiversity, food webs, and ultimately human health through seafood consumption.
“We’ve long known that ocean creatures of all shapes and sizes are eating plastics; what we set out to understand was how much is too much,” said Murphy. “The lethal dose varies based on the species, the animal’s size, the type of plastic it’s consuming, and other factors, but overall it’s much smaller than you might think, which is troubling when you consider that more than a garbage truck’s worth of plastics enters the ocean every minute.”
Murphy’s leadership in this research has been instrumental in advancing scientific understanding and raising public awareness about the urgent need to reduce plastic waste. The study’s impact has the potential to influence policy discussions and conservation initiatives worldwide.
In recognition of her exceptional contribution to science and environmental advocacy, Murphy was awarded the 2025 Cozzarelli Prize for Scientific Excellence in the Applied Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences class. This award is presented annually to six research teams whose PNAS articles have made outstanding contributions to their field. Each team represents one of the six classes of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS): Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Biological Sciences; Engineering and Applied Sciences; Biomedical Sciences; Behavioral and Social Sciences; and Applied Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Murphy’s achievements exemplify SIB’s mission to cultivate leaders who tackle complex biological and environmental challenges. As one of our peer mentors, her work continues to inspire current students and alumni, demonstrating the global influence of SIB graduates in advancing science and conservation.
We congratulate Erin on this remarkable accomplishment and are excited to see how her leadership in protecting our oceans will continue to help future generations.