Scripps Oceanography researcher seeks La Jolla Shores support to study microplastics in the air Dimitri Deheyn, a professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, studies microplastics and is concerned about those that are airborne. (Elisabeth Frausto) Jan. 17, 2021 Updated 11:54 AM PT Print The La Jolla Shores Association is answering a call for support from a Scripps Institution of Oceanography researcher in his effort to acquire machines that measure microplastics in the air people breathe. Dimitri Deheyn, a professor at the La Jolla institute who is studying plastics pollution, led a presentation during the association’s Jan. 13 meeting on what he called a “proposal of interest to the habitants of La Jolla” and called for further monitoring of airborne microplastics.