Larissa Holman from Ottawa Riverkeeper and Shaun Forrest from Carleton University discuss the recently released paper “Citizen science sampling programs as a technique for monitoring microplastic pollution” which details the work that Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Riverwatch network did helping the lab of Jesse Vermaire at Carleton University collect data on microplastic pollution in the Ottawa River watershed. The paper outlines both the advantages and challenges of working with citizen scientists, and puts forward some actionable recommendations.