About: Alistair is Professor of Environmental Science based in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York in the UK. Alistair's research focuses on understanding the current and future risks of chemicals (including medicines, pesticides, metals, microplastics and nanomaterials) to ecological and human health.

Most pressing issue: As a society, we don't seem to learn from our past environmental mistakes and are very slow in embedding scientific advances into policy and regulation.  Over the past few decades our understanding of the risks of chemicals in the environment has increased enormously yet new chemical pollution challenges continually crop up. We should be doing a much better job to protect the planet.

Top tip for new researchers:  Collaborate with others from other disciplines and cultures. We will only be able to solve the challenges of chemical pollution through interdisciplinary and global collaboration. It is also immense fun and makes you think differently about your work.

About: Emma is an environmental chemist. She has worked for over 20 years assessing, interpreting, and communicating evidence on chemical risk and impacts on water quality in research, consultancy, and regulatory settings.  Her research interests focus on improved understanding and management of environmental risk from substances of emerging concern. Emma leads a multidisciplinary team of research scientists in the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist Group - the water research team.

Most pressing issue: Managing risks from PFAS (per and poly fluoroalkyated substances).  As a society we currently rely on PFAS chemistries in technology and everyday life, yet we know that some PFAS are extremely harmful. Environmental contamination leaves a long-lasting legacy of potential harm to the environment and human health which is technically challenging to remediate.  A diverse range of chemistries, covering complex mixture of substances, extreme persistence and significant environmental mobility, combined with the pressing need to take action to manage both legacy contamination and prevent further contamination, mean this is a truly is a complex challenge.

Top tip for new researchers: Say yes to opportunities that feel daunting or beyond your experience - that’s where personal growth and experience comes from.  You never know where saying yes will take you next…..

About: Isobel is an Environmental Molecular Microbiologist working on bacterial and fungal antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Isobel works in an interdisciplinary manner, undertaking monitoring, laboratory-based assays, as well as evidence synthesis and qualitative methodologies.

Most pressing issue: Understanding the impact of chemical mixtures. For AMR, much of the research has investigated the impact of single chemical stressors, whereas chemicals exist in the environment in complex mixtures.

Top tip for new researchers: Build a diverse network and from other disciplines, as well as from your own area of expertise to help solve the complex challenges in environmental science research.

About: Miriam now works on "big picture" questions, like "what is the planetary boundary for chemicals" and "how will we move forward with a just transition"? She is also involved in chemicals management by responding to government proposals for legislative initiatives (or lack thereof!) and at the intergovernmental level through the newly established intergovernmental panel on chemicals, waste and pollution (ISP-CWP) that is being established under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme. This comes after more than 30 years of investigating sources, transport mechanisms and  exposure pathways of a variety of chemicals.  

Most pressing issue: The lack of global governance to restrict total chemical production and the production of hazardous substances, particularly as it effects low-income countries. The disparities of a healthy environment is growing between high and low income countries, and is growing within each country due to over-consumption by the few. Tackling this challenging geopolitical problem is difficult and yet it must be tackled to bring greater safety to all. 

Top tip for new researchers: Be as persistent as a nasty, persistent chemical. Keep your optimism, which will give you energy to just keep going to make the work a better place.  And further, walk the walk - do the right thing to lead by example. Others will follow.