Compelling Youth Action on Plastic Pollution

In October 2019, Jennifer and Andrew from Adrift Lab traveled to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to undertake research on beach plastic debris, and film an episode of ‘Encounters’ with Alec Su which aired to huge audiences in China on 3 Dec 2019.

While on Cocos, Jennifer and Andrew visited the Community Center in order to obtain a map. A local resident recognized Jennifer and informed her a young boy named Jack had traveled to Cocos specifically to undertake a beach clean-up with his family after seeing some of Jennifer’s photos of plastic on the internet. 

Jack was not aware Jennifer was on Cocos, so she planned a surprise. The following morning, she arrived at his hotel room unexpectedly and gave Jack the shock of his life by inviting him to spend the day as a ‘field assistant’ helping collect research data. Jennifer and Andrew (and the Chinese film crew) were so impressed with Jack’s passion and skill, he was also invited to appear on-screen in ‘Encounters’ – what a thrill for the entire family!

Since returning home, Jack and his family have made a commitment: to complete a beach clean-up at least once a month. In November, they joined the Environmental Warriors in Yallingup on their mission to keep plastic off pristine beaches. 

Jack also led a school discussion about plastic in places like Cocos. He created his own movie, and spoke beautifully in front of 500 students, staff and parents. His Principal was blown away by his holiday experience on Cocos and the passion he has for making a difference. As a result, Jack’s school has banned all plastic cutlery!

At Adrift Lab, we aspire to connect people with nature, and provide unique opportunities for passionate individuals to gain knowledge, experiences, and support networks that launch the futures of these change-makers.