Utopia is an adventure project that combines participatory science, scientific mediation and popular education to try and gain a better understanding of plastics. We are experimenting with the concept of participatory studies in which every citizen who is interested in gaining a better understanding of the issues and problems associated with plastics is invited to study with Utopia. These studies will provide Utopia with the knowledge it needs to produce a series of videos and web documentaries in the various countries along the route of our round-the-Atlantic sailing expedition in October 2020. The aim of these two aspects is to gain a better understanding of plastics from as many angles as possible (technical, economic, social and environmental). Utopia is attempting to rise to the challenge of making available to everyone the keys to understanding, existing best practice and exposing the players involved in this vast and complex subject.