Press & Media

Matthew J. Hoffman, Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Rochester Institute of Technology
April 28, 2025

Tackling the Macro Problem of Microplastics

RIT feature on the university's interdisciplinary microplastics research team — including our modeling work — which has attracted nearly $10 million in funding since 2020.

Storm drain, a pathway for debris into the Great Lakes
September 5, 2024

NOAA Marine Debris Funding & NY Sea Grant Expansion

RIT was recommended for additional federal funding through the NOAA Marine Debris Program's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investment to intercept stormwater debris before it reaches the Great Lakes, expanding our marine debris research and education work with NY Sea Grant.

Test tube with microplastics sample
April 17, 2024

Lake Ontario Microplastics Center Launch

RIT and the University of Rochester launched the Lake Ontario Center for Microplastics and Human Health in a Changing Environment with $7.3 million from NIEHS and NSF. I am a co-investigator, leading the physical transport and exposure modeling. Coverage included WXXI news and a Connections interview.

WXXI Connections episode on weather and climate trends
February 15, 2023

Weather Events and Climate Trends

WXXI's Connections discussion on how recent weather events fit into the larger picture of climate and trends.

Recycling bin with paper and plastic
November 15, 2022

Why Can't We Recycle More Plastic Products?

WXXI's Connections discussion on the limits of plastic recycling and what happens to plastic products after the bin.

Field research on plastic pollution in the Great Lakes
September 28, 2021

NOAA Funding: How Plastic Ends Up in the Great Lakes

RIT's press release on NOAA Marine Debris Program awards funding our interdisciplinary projects to understand and address how plastic ends up in the Great Lakes.

3D model of plastic pollution in Lake Erie
April 22, 2020

3D Modeling of Plastic Pollution in Lake Erie

RIT's press release for our paper (led by Ph.D. student Juliette Daily) producing the first estimates of plastic pollution in the water column and deposited on the bottom of Lake Erie.

Microplastics in water
July 1, 2019

pELAstic Project

Wired discussed the start of our project at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area studying the presence and effects of plastic pollution in lakes.

Plastic debris along a Great Lakes shoreline
August 20, 2018

Tons of Plastic Trash Enter the Great Lakes Every Year — Where Does It Go?

I wrote this plain-language explainer of our Great Lakes plastic research for The Conversation, walking through where the roughly 10,000 tons of plastic entering the lakes each year ends up.

WXXI Connections roundtable
June 6, 2016

The Science of Drought

WXXI's monthly science roundtable discussion about the science of drought and the role of climate change.

One Universe at a Time podcast logo
October 17, 2015

Sports Statistics

I joined Brian Koberlein's podcast to discuss the use of advanced statistics in ice hockey and other sports.

One Universe at a Time podcast logo
June 20, 2015

Math as Science / Theory and Law

Is math a science? What is the difference between a theory and a law? I was on Brian Koberlein's podcast to discuss these questions.

One Universe at a Time podcast logo
March 14, 2015

Great Pacific Garbage Patch / Age of the Universe

I was a guest on the podcast One Universe at a Time to discuss plastic pollution in the global ocean and how astronomers determine the age of the universe.

Pi Day pie baking contest
March 13, 2015

PiRIT Pi Day Pie Contest

RIT news covered the Pi Day Pie Baking contest run by the RIT Math Club (PiRIT), which I advise. They highlighted my pie that year. Full disclosure: neither pie won.

June 10, 2014

Math at RIT

This video about the applied and computational math program at RIT features me in front of a class as well as discussing student research.