MARISSA BATTAGLIA
Special to The Leader
You know when you win an award for something and you feel like you’re on top of the world? That’s probably how Sherri Mason felt when she received the Heinz award.
This award is for individual achievement honors that are given annually by the Heinz Family Foundation. It can be awarded for topics in arts and humanities, the environment, human condition, public policy and technology, the economy and employment.
The award was established in 1993 by Teresa Heinz in honor of her husband, Senator H. John Heinz. It’s considered to be one of the largest individual achievement prizes in the world.
Mason’s résumé could be described as unique, to say the least. She swam Chautauqua Lake lengthwise and she was the first one to do it that’s been documented. It took her 10 hours, 37 minutes and 44 seconds.
“She has done amazing work, and she demonstrates her commitments in her field research, new questions, speaking engagements and even her commitment to swim across Lake Erie to show her support for the Great Lakes. She trained hard and braved awful weather once she reached the midpoint of the lake. She is strong and determined,” said President Virginia Horvath.
She has also made contributions in the interest of environmentalism. Mason did research on identifying the presence of microbeads and microfibers in fresh water. She also raised awareness of the impact that microplastics have on the food chain and human health.
“Microbeads and other plastics are everywhere in our environment — we as humans have introduced this type of pollution into the world, and despite how widespread it is, we still do not understand the long-term effects on the environment or ultimately on ourselves. A better understanding of the problem will help us find solutions, and hopefully encourage people to reduce their use of plastics every day,” said Ecology Professor Courtney Wigdahl-Perry.
This research led to a state, federal and international policy change. If the Earth dies, we die with it. She won the award in the Public Policy category and received an unrestricted cash award of $250,000.
“Dr. Mason and I have recently collaborated on a research project to explore how tiny aquatic organisms consume microbeads. I really enjoyed branching out into a new area of research, and the combination of Dr. Mason’s expertise in plastic pollution and my ecology background has made this a very successful project,” said Wigdahl-Perry. “I have become much more aware of broader issues related to plastics since coming here to Fredonia and getting to know Dr. Mason — so I have learned a lot professionally and personally.”
Mason is always ready to do new research and currently she is doing research on synthetic fibers from materials used for fleece clothing and blankets. You might be thinking, what does throwing away clothes have to do with the environment? When clothes are thrown away and buried in landfills, they take up space and contaminate the soil which releases ghastly odors. This process releases large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and global warming.
Synthetic fibers also can enter the ecosystem through the wash cycle. Their small size lets them pass through the filtration system at wastewater treatment facilities. Fish ingest these materials, which enters the food web, then introduces chemical contaminants to aquatic organisms and humans. When you eat fish, you’re also likely to be eating plastic along with it.
All this wonderful information wouldn’t have been provided without Mason. Taking steps in order to create a safer, healthier planet is the right way to go and Mason is an incredible example that we should all follow.