Research and teaching information

Research professor with more than 25 years’ experience of studying  the deterioration pathways of plastics,  textiles, leather, paper, metals and glass in cultural objects and artworks.  Inspired by the opportunity to further my knowledge in the newly emerging area of conservation of plastics in cultural heritage collections in 1998, I relocated to the National Museum from the British Museum to accept the first PhD scholarship in this field. I am at the forefront of research into the causal factors, pathways and rates of degradation of plastics ranging from the earliest, semi-synthetics to the newest recycled and bioplastics.    

In 2014, I applied my and experience of analyzing microscopic samples of plastics and understanding their degradation patterns in real time in cultural heritage to the new and rapidly growing global challenge posed by plastic  litter to our health and environment. Since  2019, I have been a partner in the first interdisciplinary Danish MarinePlastic research center supported by the Velux Foundation  together with Aalborg-, Roskilde- and Aarhus Universities and the Technical University of Denmark.  As PI for the work package Fate and Behaviour, I aim to fill the knowledge gap describing the time scale and degradation processes that convert macroplastic litter to hazardous microplastics (<5mm) and control their distribution. In addition, in collaboration with The University of Dar es Salaam, I am investigating for the first time the extent and types of plastic pollution in fish along the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the River Nile.

Active and enthusiastic  science communicator reflected by more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in journals, conference proceedings and invitations to present my research at international workshops, on  radio, television and  podcasts.