The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series – Ripples of Plastic

The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series, launched in 2015, is presented by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, The Rockfall Foundation, the Russell Library, Middletown Garden Club, and Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts, Bailey College of the Environment, and College of Film and the Moving Image. The series offers three to four screenings each academic year, alternating between Wesleyan University and Russell Library. All events are free and open to the public.

The second screening of the 2025–26 season is Ripples of Plastic on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 2 pm at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown CT.

Embark on an eye-opening journey through the unseen impacts of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes region. Guided by Dr. Sherri Mason and other regional voices, witness the vast extent of contamination pathways, effects of microplastics, and the unexpected toll on human health. Beyond individual action, the film inspires a collective movement for transformative progress toward a plastic-free future.

After the film, join us for a discussion facilitated by Dr. Katherine Owens, Middletown based environmentalist, plastic pollution researcher, artist and activist. Kat is a Professor at the University of Hartford.