The enduring allure of poetry continues to captivate audiences across generations. Today, its timeless appeal is being harnessed to address a modern dilemma with lasting impact: pollution.
Madison Jones, the founding Director of the URI DWELL Lab and an associate professor at the University of Rhode Island, alongside co-editor Beth McDermott, is seeking poetic contributions for a new anthology titled “Forever: Poets on PFAS, Plastic, and Persistent Pollution.” This collection aims to inspire creative responses to the ongoing issue of persistent pollution.
Collaborating with URI’s STEEP Superfund Research Program, which frequently partners with the DWELL Lab, this initiative follows previous projects such as the PFAS Kitchen, an augmented reality experience designed to inform consumers about PFAS in household products. Such ventures inspired Jones to integrate creative writing into environmental discourse.
“We’re inviting poetic responses to the pressing concerns of persistent pollution and welcome submissions from poets working across disciplines,” stated Jones. “We’re especially interested in reaching writers whose work engages with science, literature, ecology, and the environmental humanities.”
Submissions Deadline: January 31, 2027. For detailed submission guidelines, visit the call for poetry submissions.
A Lasting Challenge
While the issue of microplastics is widely acknowledged and studied at institutions like URI, emerging research on PFAS contaminants is also gaining significant focus. These substances, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” can persist in the human body for extended periods.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, represent a vast class of synthetic chemicals used widely since the 1940s. Their resistance to environmental degradation has led to contamination of water supplies and food webs, posing health risks.
Jones, who coordinates URI’s Certificate in Science Writing and Rhetoric, holds dual roles in the departments of Professional/Public Writing and Natural Resources Science. His work in science communication includes presentations for the National Park Service and authorship of “Inventing Ecosystems: The Rhetoric of Science in an Ecological Age.” His poetry often explores ecological themes.
Jones and McDermott have previously collaborated as editors at Kudzu House Quarterly, a journal dedicated to environmental arts and letters. “’Forever’ chemicals move through our air, water, food, and bodies,” Jones commented. “It is our hope that our collection, ‘Forever,’ can voice a response to the problems of persistent pollution that we face, reckoning with the realities of living in today’s age of change.”
Jones encourages submissions from both the URI community and beyond, with an open invitation to contribute. “We’re hoping for an international reach,” he expressed. “The call is open to anyone.”
For more information on submissions, visit the call page. Direct further inquiries to Madison Jones at [email protected].
Original Story at www.newswise.com