Visiting Researcher and Teacher in Plastic Pollution
Dr Imogen Napper
University of Plymouth
The Challenger Society Stepping Stones Bursary supported an opportunity to be a visiting researcher and teacher in plastic pollution at The Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI), in South Eleuthera (The Bahamas).
Overall, this was an incredible opportunity to step into new roles and fill important gaps in my research career. Over four months, I had the chance to lead a module on plastic pollution, guiding students through fieldwork and research projects, which felt both challenging and hugely rewarding.
Teaching and marking were areas I hadn’t fully explored before, and the experience was eye-opening. Developing lesson plans, overseeing student projects, and then assessing their work taught me how much care and attention go into every step. It wasn’t just about delivering content—it was about shaping how students think, helping them build confidence in their own abilities, and watching them grow as scientists.
One of the most valuable parts of this experience was realising how much I enjoy teaching and mentoring. It’s helped me reflect on where I want to take my career next, giving me the confidence to pursue roles that involve more leadership, like programme management and course design.
Beyond the classroom, I also broadened my marine science knowledge. I was able to collaborate with other researchers at CEI who were studying sharks, coral reefs, and fish populations. Being part of their projects gave me fresh insights and a chance to contribute to different areas of research, which broadened my marine science knowledge.
This experience has shaped my path forward and given me the confidence to take on the next steps in my career.
Profile:
Dr. Imogen Napper is a Marine Scientist and Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth. Her research investigates different sources of plastic pollution into the environment; this has helped to influence legislation banning microbeads in facial scrubs, investigated how we are polluting the planet through washing and wearing our clothes, demonstrated that biodegradable plastics bags could still hold a full load of shopping after being submerged in the ocean after 3 years and found the highest microplastics on Earth near Mt. Everest summit. Additionally, she focusses on how plastic pollution is linked to other environmental issues. Her research shows how small changes can make a big difference and that larger environmental commitments are needed by industry and governments globally.
Latest News
Potential Availability of NERC Ship Time During the 25/26 Programme Year
The NERC Marine Facilities Programme for 2025/2026 for the RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook has been published on the Marine Facilities Planning website.
The RRS Discovery programme currently contains a 79 day alongside slot between the 2nd of November 2025 and the 19th of January 2026, which is available for science delivery if funded science projects can make use of this time. Due to the location of the vessel, the ship is most likely to be able to deliver fieldwork in the North and East Atlantic regions. Some support for science capability within the National Marine Equipment Pool is potentially available, although there is no capacity for use of autonomous vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. Any fieldwork within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) will need the appropriate diplomatic clearance submitted to coastal states at least 6 months in advance, and to NMF with sufficient lead time for processing via the FCDO.
If interested in making use of this ship time, please contact NERC Marine Planning (marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org) ASAP to start discussions.
THE MARINE FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD – CAN YOU HELP?
The Marine Facilities Advisory Board advises the National Oceanography Centre on marine facilities and services, including the Natural Environment Research Council’s National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the British Oceanographic Data Centre and the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility.
NOC Association AGM 2025
NOC Association (NOCA) AGM 2025
The 14th AGM of the NOC Association will be held on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May 2025. This free, on-line event will take place on Zoom, across two consecutive mornings, each starting at 10:00 and ending at 12:30. Although discussion topics are being finalised, we will focus on national capability (NC) science, ships, and autonomous vehicles, and how the community can engage. There will be an update on AtlantiS and on the new marine science scoping group. All are warmly welcome to join. To participate, please complete your registration here. For enquiries: Jackie Pearson, Secretary to NOCA: jfpea@noc.ac.uk