1. Elusive Ocean Trash - The North Atlantic Garbage Patch
A Public Policy Analyst (PPA) Approach to this social problem
Mrs. Neesemann
AP Environmental Science
Bay Ridge Preparatory School

2. Trash is a problem!
As our population increases, so too does the consumption of materials that must then be disposed of. Often times that disposal leads the trash into our oceans. 

3. Ocean currents
The North Atlantic patch is estimated to be hundreds of km across, with a density of over 200,000 pieces of debris per square km. The debris zone shifts by as much as 1,600 km north and south seasonally, and drifts even farther south during El Nino times, according to NOAA.

4. The PPA – public policy analyst
6 Steps: you will use these steps to come up with policy options that might be implemented
Define the problem
Gather the Evidence
Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

5. The PPA Define the problem Gather the Evidence Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

6. Define the Problem Start by stating the problem
What is it?
Where does it occur?
What are undesirable consequences of this problem?
Define the Problem Worksheet

7. The PPA Define the problem Gather the Evidence Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

8. Gather Evidence Do some research! Remember to cite your sources!
Google is a good place to start…but…
Statistics are better!
Surveys
Case Studies
Scholarly articles
Remember to cite your sources!
Gather Evidence Worksheet

9. The PPA Define the problem Gather the Evidence Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

10. Identify the Causes What are the underlying factors?
Can you support those with evidence?
Identify the Cause Worksheet

11. The PPA Define the problem Gather the Evidence Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

12. Evaluate Exisiting Policies
What is one current policy to deal with trash in our oceans?
Advantages/Disadvantages to this policy?
Should this policy be replaced? Strengthened? Improved?
Evaluating Worksheet

13. The PPA Define the problem Gather the Evidence Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

14. Develop Solutions What are 3 new policies that could be implemented?
Who will be responsible for implementing this?
Which of your 3 policies do you think is the most promising?
Develop Solutions Worksheet

15. The PPA Define the problem Gather the Evidence Identify the Causes
Evaluate an Existing Policy
Develop Solutions
Select the Best Solution

16. Select the Best Solution
Feasibility – how realistic is this idea?
Effectiveness – how well will it work?
Where does your policy fall into the matrix of these two parameters?
Select the Best Solution Worksheet

17. Share!
Since we’ve all been working with the same problem, lets share each group’s best solution. What did you come up with??

18. Citations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_garbage_patch