Imari Walker-Franklin, PhD

I came across so much litter and plastic pollution on my run. These spoons reminded me of the recent study finding a spoonful of nanoplastics within the brain. While we don’t know how they got there, the environment we pollute can impact us in ways that researchers are rapidly working to understand

The ABCs of INC 5.2: Asbestos, Brackets, [no] Consensus and Disappointment. Time for rest and to get back to the science.

It’s amazing to watch! Cant wait to connect!

🇨🇭 Plastics Treaty talks are underway in Geneva.
INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso opened with a clear call:
“The urgency is real, the evidence is clear, and the responsibility is ours.”
💪 Now, countries must find the courage to act.
👀 Follow along for updates from inside the room. #PlasticsTreaty

The gavel has been struck today for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution! Excited to observe these negotiations and connect with other experts in this space. #INC52 #plastic

Hey from the far right! You got a great overview from the whole room! Hoping for a solid science first treaty!

YouTube video by Imari Walker Expectation vs Reality of Environmental Engineers and Chemists

Had a fun moment today realizing my most-viewed YouTube video (70K views!) is a short reel on expectations vs. reality for environmental engineers.

Love seeing interest in this interdisciplinary field. If you’re curious, check out the 10-sec short here:
youtube.com/shorts/SX-FN...

#Circularity2025 is now underway and our team is very excited to be here!

Come stop by the RTI International booth #115 and lcheck out our panel tomorrow to ask our Scientists about microplastics and the circular economy.

#Circularity25 #Microplastics #CircularEconomy #AskAScientist

Can yall share your favorite Christmas meals and desserts? I’m looking for ideas

Nothing is more powerful than celebrating this moment with my husband and child who have been endless sources of support and inspiration.

Additional thanks goes to the organizers of this wonderful week in Pasadena (Brittany and James) and to my fellow present and past awardees that I got the opportunity to community build and knowledge share with this past week

#ScienceCommunication #Gratitude #ExcellenceInScience #NationalAcademies

I want to express my gratitude to the National Academies and the Schmidt for highlighting the importance of engaging science communication. To my colleagues, mentors, plastics book co-author Jenna Jambeck and everyone who has supported me along this journey—thank you for being part of my growth.

I was incredibly honored and humbled to receive The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communication last week alongside 23 other incredible awardees.

Nothing is more powerful than celebrating this moment with my husband and child who have been endless sources of support and inspiration.

Anyone else pack a special pot or utensil to cook your designated dish for Thanksgiving?

I’m currently packing my greens pot and wondering how I became the greens Auntie 😂

Love this!

Sweet! Many thanks!

This meeting will be held (in person only) at the NC Biotech Center in RTP, NC on January 29-30, 2025. Registration is open now.

Link: environmentalhealthcollaborative.org/2025-summit/

🚨 Calling all Microplastic and Plastic Pollution Researchers and policy makers!

The Research Triangle Health Collaborative in coordination with RTI International is hosting its 2025 Summit titled, "Local Solutions to a Global Problem: Microplastics in North Carolina".

Hi everyone 👋🏽
My name is Imari and I am a black science communicator that studies the impact of plastics and microplastics to our health and the environment!

I also recently wrote a book on this called plastics.

Would love to connect!

Hi everyone 👋🏽
My name is Imari and I am a black science communicator that studies the impact of plastics and microplastics to our health and the environment!

I also recently wrote a book on this called plastics.

Would love to connect!

I’m back on BlueSky looking for my fellow scientists!

Looking to connect with chemists, biologists, and environmental engineers!

I also research the impacts of microplastics so feel free to follow along!

Where yall at?

Meeting 1 for the @theNASEM Roundtable on Plastics Complete!

It was truly a pleasure to be able to engage in dialogues with so many leaders with diverse expertise and views on plastics. Looking forward to the many more opportunities to come in this space.

Can do! Thanks for the suggestion!

I am excited to announce I will be a part of a new Roundtable on Plastics with @theNASEM. This roundtable will explore the complex and diverse issues around reducing plastic waste, among other topics.

Learn more:
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/rou...

Alarming new microplastics study: Patients with microplastics identified in their heart had higher risk of stroke, heart attack or death.

Majority of the microplastics were fragmented polyethylene or pvc.

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

3. Aquathread podcast is hosted by Professor Jenna Jambeck and I was lucky to be one of the rotating cohosts of season 1. Aquathread is a plastics focused podcast that illustrates the connections in our world from land to water to people, and everything in between.

www.npr.org/podcasts/119...

2. The indisposable podcast created by Upstream celebrate solutions to plastic pollution and feature heroes of the movement. UPSTREAM ideates, co-creates and accelerates real-world practical solutions to plastic pollution and today’s throw-away culture.

open.spotify.com/show/0LNTuP0...

Plastisphere podcast is one of the first podcasts I started listening to back in 2020 and I’m a huge fan of Anjas method of plastic story telling! Anja takes us on journey into plastics impacts on nature and ourselves, and the global quest to tackle plastic pollution.

anjakrieger.com/plastisphere/

Plastic podcasts include plastisphere, indisposable podcast and Aquathread podcast. Pictured are their advertisement flyers

If you are looking for a new podcast to check out whilst learning about the world of plastic pollution and solutions, I recommend you check out one of these three podcasts.

Plastisphere Podcast @anjakrieger.bsky.social
Indisposables Podcast
Aquathread Podcast
@jambeckresearch.bsky.social