In Conversation With Dr Imogen Napper
Dr Imogen Napper is a marine scientist based in Plymouth (UK), who specialises in plastic pollution in the marine environment. Imogen’s research has uncovered some disturbing truths about just how much plastic - especially microplastics - we’re putting into our oceans. This has been key in influencing change, both through new government legislation which banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics, and in her current work developing new ways of stopping the microfibres that come off our clothes when they are washed from reaching the marine environment. She is a National Geographic Expedition Scientist and a Sky Ocean Rescue Scholar, but took time out of her busy schedule to speak (via video call) with Mhairi McCann and Anne-Rosa Bilal.
Dr Imogen Napper | Credit: National Geographic
Mhairi: Hi Imogen, thanks so much for joining us today and taking time to answer our questions!
Anne-Rosa: It’s awesome to meet you Imogen! To start off, can you tell us a bit about your research?
Imogen: Thanks for having me! I'm a marine scientist and I specialise in plastic pollution in the marine environment - someone best described me before as a plastic detective! My job is to understand how plastic is getting into the ocean. When it does get there, what is happening to it? What impact is it having? And most importantly, how can we try and stop it?
My first research project looked at microbeads in cosmetics - microbeads are tiny plastic particles that are put into cosmetics to act as exfoliators to get the dead skin cells off. We found that each bottle contains millions of tiny pieces of plastic! Each time you washed your face with one of these products, you’d be washing it with roughly 10,000 pieces of plastic, and all this plastic goes down the drain, through the sewage treatment works and ends up in the ocean.
Another research project I worked on looked at how washing our clothes is causing plastic pollution. Most of our clothes are made of plastic materials, such as polyester or acrylic, so when you wash your clothes in the washing machine and they are swirling and swishing around, plastic particles come off. We found that this can be as many as 700,000 microscopic plastic fibres every time you do a wash!
In 2018, I got a National Geographic grant and also became a Sky Ocean Rescue Scholar, to build a washing machine lab where we've been testing different inventions to see which ones are most efficient at catching these fibres. Hopefully we’ll be able to wash our clothes without so much damage to the environment in the future!
I’ve worked on other projects too - one that was investigating microplastic on Mount Everest, where I didn’t go, but I did the analysis work. I also worked with National Geographic as an Expedition Scientist on their ‘Sea To Shore’ expedition. It took us all the way from where the ocean meets the Ganges River in Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal all the way up to the glacial source in the Himalayas. I was leading the microplastic component in the water stream, so understanding where plastic was getting into the river, how it is happening and looking at solutions for the future.
Mhairi: Plastic pollution is definitely a big issue, and one that we need to solve soon! What got you interested in the issue of plastic pollution originally?
Imogen: I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was in school at all. I knew I really liked research, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. I’ve always lived next to the sea, growing up near Bristol and now living in Plymouth, and always loved it. We used to go to the beach all the time when I was younger, and I can never remember there being any plastic on the beach back then. Now I'm 28, and every time I go to the beach, I see plastic and see what's happening. I want to be part of the solution and not just sit down and watch it happen.
It took me a little bit longer to figure out what I wanted to do though. I actually did my first degree in Environmental Science, where my supervisor sat me down and said, “I know that you love research but what do you want to do when you're older or after your degree?”. I had no idea, and so he made me write a mind map about what I am passionate about - I was passionate about the environment, doing beach cleaning and surfing and I've always been passionate about trying to keep the environment healthy and clean. You only have to go outside to take a breath of fresh air to realise we're so lucky. And then I realised I was being really silly and I was so passionate about plastic pollution in the ocean. It’s something that I was really passionate about as a hobby, but not at university. It took me a while to figure out that’s what I wanted to do, so I did a biotechnology masters degree focusing on environmental studies.
Then I wrote a letter to my supervisor saying I know I am not a conventional marine biologist or scientist but here's my skills and I'm passionate and here's my idea for a PhD and I've never left the university since. I finished my PhD last year and am now doing a Post Doc (research after a PhD).
Anne-Rosa: Wow, I guess that shows it’s ok to not know what you want to do straight away! Can you tell us a bit more about the link between your research and policy and how your research has influenced change?
Imogen: After we discovered the scale of the problem of microplastics in cosmetics, we took this to governments around the world. By showing them that you can use natural alternatives instead like sugar or salt, companies started to voluntarily remove them. People like you and me, started to not buy them anymore because they were outraged. And then legislation went in actually banning the products themselves, which was awesome. I think this shows how research can make a really effective change.
As researchers, we have to keep critical and get the message out there. The best way to do that is to submit evidence to Government and keep doing outreach to people in education, so we can inform policymakers and community members like you and me about our environment. That way, we can all play a part in protecting the environment by making the right decisions that are best for our planet.
Mhairi: So, it’s about how science can promote systemic change? Individuals can make a difference, but the government and companies need to be the ones that take the action for the big impacts.
Imogen: Exactly. It is both really. A lot of people say what does one person need to do? I get that, but actually that one person can have a huge difference by going to the supermarket and looking at the ingredients and using the bottle that didn't have plastic in. By that one decision, you could be stopping millions of microbeads from entering the ocean. But then the huge change is coming from all of the companies voluntarily removing microbeads or legislation saying things like that are illegal. The power of the people is a huge voice and we need to steer that communication to companies and government so that we can have a wide effect. It’s a problem we all need to solve together.
Anne-Rosa: What do you think has been your biggest achievement so far?
Imogen: Let me have a think...Getting my PhD was a big one. Also being selected to be a National Geographic Explorer and Sky Ocean Rescue Scholar, so out of the two thousand people that applied, I got down to the last three and we all got selected. That really helped push up my career in terms of media, outreach and publicity. I'm going to say my proudest moment was about 5 years ago, when I won Marine Conservation Society Volunteer of the Year for doing lots of school outreach events, going to schools and teaching about plastic pollution. And maybe even passing my driving test! I wasn't a natural driver, I failed my driving test 3 times so I was pretty chuffed when I passed (and now driving is fine!).
Mhairi: You mentioned earlier about being a National Geographic Expedition Scientist - can you tell us a bit more about it?
Imogen: This was really the dream job! I never, ever expected it to happen to me at all because I'm literally just a normal person. After I got a grant with National Geographic for doing the research about washing clothes, they invited me to do a talk as part of a panel at their headquarters in Washington. Around a week later, one of the other panel members, Heather Koldewey, who is also looking at plastic pollution and is an amazing marine biologist, rang me up and asked if I wanted to go on this crazy project with her as one of the Expedition Scientists. It's been a really exciting opportunity, where I’ve been surrounded by some really incredible people.
Anne-Rosa: This is a more personal question, but what regrets do you have, if any, in your career so far?
Imogen: I’d probably say working too hard. I work late quite a lot, and sometimes I do silly hours, but it’s important to have a life as well. I find it really hard to know when to stop - and I love saying yes to everything so I have research coming out of my ears that I am trying to finish. Even though I regret working hard, it’s just knowing when to stop and take a breather so that you've got your work and your life.
Mhairi: Definitely! How do you spend your time when you're not at work? What do you like to do?
Imogen: I have a dog, Rhubarb who is the love of my life. [Brief intermission in the interview to virtually meet Rhubarb, who is extremely cute!]. I go surfing when I can, but am missing it with coronavirus lockdown! I play the guitar terribly, but really enjoy doing it, and at the minute, I'm trying to get more into yoga to start the day. I'm also in the Royal Navy Reserves as a media officer, which I’ve done for five years, and I really enjoy it.
We then gave Imogen a break from answering questions, and the opportunity to ask us some questions about what we’re doing here at Youth STEM 2030! We talked about a range of topics and wanted to share a couple of Imogen’s experiences and perspectives. First, on women in STEM…
“I’m really passionate about getting more women in science as well, which is considered quite a male dominated world. I’m so lucky that I get to be surrounded by so many women in my office. And men as well. It makes a really nice dynamic to work in.”
We also discussed how Youth STEM 2030 wants to take STEM beyond the classroom textbooks, and empower youth to use STEM to solve real world problems...
“Something I’m really passionate about as well is getting more young people into science, because it’s not like the textbooks - science is real world problems and real world solutions. It’s something that you’re passionate in. It’s not doing Pythagoras’ theorem. So I think you are taking a really amazing, forward thinking approach. You’ve seen an issue and you’re trying to tackle it which is science in itself. What you’re doing is very logically thinking, and rather than doing it for self gain you are doing it for other people.”
Continuing with our questions for Imogen…
Anne-Rosa: What advice would you give to young people who might want to have a career in marine biology or science?
Imogen: I'd say, keep following, what you are interested in, what you are curious about and what you're passionate in. I think it's about making sure you don't pinpoint yourself, keep yourself really broad because you have no idea where those other skills are actually going to help. Also, just be curious and mindful of the other research that is happening, because everything is interlinked! I never considered washing your clothes as a source of plastic pollution or even a topic in marine science!
I would also say to take the path you want to take - you don’t necessarily have to go to university. My friends that didn’t go to university have been successful, and so have my friends that did go to university. It’s about what you want to do.
Mhairi: With a challenge as big as plastic pollution, what would you say has helped you stay motivated?
Imogen: The main thing that keeps me going is just reconnecting with the world in nature - going outside for a walk on the beach if possible, if not then around town and realising that we're so lucky to live on this planet with all these wonderful animals, and the diversity in our own lives and in our own human sphere. To know the world is polluting the ocean as well is shocking because it's something that we all share in common - we are all connected by the ocean. So just reminding ourselves of how lucky we are, keeps me going because you want to protect what you love.
Anne-Rosa: How do you think the world should approach mitigating the challenge of plastic pollution?
Imogen: It is not going to be one easy answer, there are so many different forces, so many different types of plastic. It's like a huge jigsaw. And there are so many different puzzle pieces in the jigsaw that are going to complete it. All we can do is focus on our one little part of the puzzle and work on connecting them together. If everyone is doing their own little bit to try to minimise plastic pollution, that's how we are going to solve it.
Mhairi: How would you say that young people specifically can help solve the plastic problem?
Imogen: Young people are the most powerful people in solving this issue as the problem isn’t going to be fixed quickly and we’ll be passing this problem down to your generation. You are the future scientists, the future policymakers, the future prime minister, the future parents, the future friends of people, so the changes that we make today are going to trickle down the generations. And one person can make a huge impact.
Mhairi: This is a less serious question…Do you have a favourite sea creature? And why?
Imogen: It would probably be whales because I think they’re so mysterious. They're so big and so old and they're eyes are like huge human eyes. They’re so wise like gentle giants of the ocean. And I've been lucky enough to see some - they just take your breath away. Seeing them on TV is one thing, but then seeing them in real life and seeing how big they are, that is incredible.
Mhairi: So what would you say a typical day of work looks like for you? Is there a typical day?
Imogen: It really depends. I guess the good thing is it's so varied. During lockdown I'm trying to get lots of papers written and submitted - I'm revising a paper at the moment. I do a lot of work in the lab extracting plastic and using a lot of instruments in the chemistry lab to find out what plastic it is. And in the last year I've done a lot of field work, I spent four to five months in India and Bangladesh, travelling up the Ganges River. It mixes from hard core field work to hard core lab time to hard core paper writing!
Anne-Rosa: Our final question today is what's your favourite thing about doing scientific research?
Imogen: You are answering an unanswered question, a question that potentially no-one knows the answer to and you will be the first person to tell other people that answer. You get to see what changes are made from it and see how it can impact the world for the better. That's what I really enjoy.
Mhairi: I think that’s a great answer to have ended on! Thank you so much for your time today Imogen, it was really interesting to hear about your work!
Anne-Rosa: Absolutely, it’s been really cool hearing about your research and your career, thank you!
