Spartan has passion for trashy beaches

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Gabby Kleber spent her summer hitting beaches across the world.

The chemical engineering senior wasn’t sunning herself or sipping umbrella drinks under a palm tree — visiting seven countries, she got her hands dirty collecting trash as part of a $9,000 grant from the Circumnavigators Club of Michigan.

The worst pollution she saw in her trip, which included travels to Hawaii, Australia and Singapore, was in Maldives.

“They had nowhere to put (trash) — no dumps to facilitate the trash, like here,” Kleber said. “They either had to burn it or leave it.”

Water bottles were some of the most common items washing up on shores around the world, Kleber said. She hopes MSU eventually bans water bottles or provides reusable water bottles for freshmen.

“People just don’t think about (water bottles) as an issue,” she said. “They were overwhelming (to find on the beaches).”

Helen Jost, executive director of the Circumnavigators Club, said the Michigan chapter gives out a grant every other year and chooses among students from MSU and the University of Michigan. Three to four grants are awarded each year.

Kleber collected data on her trips and will use it to compile a study that will be presented to the board that funded her trip.

“We pick students who are passionate about traveling and who want to help the world around them,” Jost said.

When applying in September, Kleber chose a study that would apply to her career, and presented to a board of five or six people. Her presentation included the people she would meet with on the trip, a map of the places she picked and how each applied to her study. Choosing 15 countries, Kleber said she picked places where marine debris was a common problem.

“I planned the trip completely by myself, 100 percent,” she said.

Once awarded the funding, Kleber was required to visit at least five different countries in three regions of the world. No backtracking was allowed and she couldn’t spend more than $4,500 on flights.

“(Traveling) is really exciting and addicting. I prefer to be alone. It’s all for me,” she said. “It is more personal.”

The trip was something the Circumnavigators Club felt positive about, said Joe Osentoski, president of the Michigan Chapter of the Circumnavigators Club. Her connections with native peoples were astounding, he added.

“It was very heartening to see her interactions with everyone around the world,” Osentoski said.

“It was the outcome we hoped to see from her. She still is in communication with us, and is a very good representative for the club.”

Although Kleber said she was in contact with a wide range of people, including aborigines in Australia, royalty in Maldives and international volunteers, the focus of her mission never left her mind.

“The dangers of trash on marine biology and the surrounding community was eye-opening,” she said.

“I saw the direct impact. It was terrible.”

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