https://www.imariwalker.com/outreach daily 0.75 2026-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/3a1716ef-b98d-4381-a5db-830691d87e14/flower.JPG Outreach A group of five people, three women and two men, standing in front of a scientific research poster at an academic conference, with some looking at the poster and one woman speaking and gesturing towards the poster. The poster discusses seed germination and viability between different plant species. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/36e8e80c-3483-4f76-a815-244fade865f8/torontome.jpg Outreach A woman with curly hair, wearing a black blazer, presenting a scientific research poster at an academic conference. She is holding a microphone and gesturing towards the poster, which contains various charts, graphs, and text. There are backpacks and bags on the floor next to her, and a gray partition behind her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/b187ece3-1b1d-4fcc-9f7a-5e5e5355fb9d/Ascona.JPG Outreach A woman stands next to a scientific research poster at a conference. She is smiling and wearing a patterned top with a lanyard around her neck. The poster discusses leaching of bisphenol A from epoxy and carbon nanotube polymer composites, featuring graphs, charts, and sections of text. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/61acc9c9-40e9-49f5-9d23-05d001b6d092/GRC.JPG Outreach A woman standing next to a scientific research poster at an academic conference, wearing a floral dress and smiling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/eacbd849-6008-41f3-9454-24a4bf4a78c7/presentation.jpg Outreach A woman in a brown suit smiling at a scientific research poster presentation at a conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/4612e52b-0d0f-4a68-a091-3dcddf26adfb/UCleads.JPG Outreach A woman stands smiling with arms crossed next to a scientific research poster at a conference. The poster discusses macroinvertebrate succession on decomposing turtle remains on the shores of Moorea, French Polynesia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1569625179924-T4ALJ2M2IPWQT29XEY5R/NSBE3.JPG Outreach - NSBE Mentor I have been a member of the National Society of Black Engineers since 2015 and was granted the opportunity to make a difference as Vice President of my undergraduate chapter. At Duke I continued to participate as a mentor and member of the Duke NSBE chapter. (Picture: Volunteering as a recruit for Duke Graduate School of Engineering.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1569682963094-H6BHSIBG6P7SUFMB50B4/SENSOR+Saturday+Academy.jpg Outreach - Sensor Academy As a Sensor Saturday Academy mentor 2017-2019, I worked with 8th graders in the Durham area to teach them math and engineering principles. They learned the principles associated to sensors that study water quality. https://www.imariwalker.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-02-22 https://www.imariwalker.com/about daily 1.0 2026-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/8323e06f-3c3d-4e52-9713-775f0d532392/Plastic+MIT+EK.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/31f3422e-e749-4255-b72d-d4de686e0eb7/RTI+SciComm.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1614705966448-S54VFZ8UK5XHPPDHLJKG/Imari_2021.jpg About - Research Scientist Advancing the Science of Microplastics, PFAS, and the Human Exposome I investigate how plastics and chemical contaminants move through our environment and into our bodies — and translate that science to inform public health, innovation, and global policy. Lead Scientist at RTI International Author of Plastics MIT Press Schmidt Excellence in Science Communication Awardee, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Contact me here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/fde748b9-7c6d-454c-af17-905886b110d5/IMG_8793.jpeg About - Bridging Chemistry, Human Health, and Global Policy I am an analytical chemist and environmental engineer specializing in advanced mass spectrometry, exposomics, and microplastic characterization. My research integrates: High-resolution mass spectrometry and non-targeted analysis workflows for emerging contaminants Microplastics generation and weathering studies PFAS contaminant detection and transformation In vitro models to evaluate human health impacts of contaminants From freshwater systems to human lung cells, my work examines how plastic particles, polymer-associated chemicals and other emerging environmental chemicals transform, persist, and affect biological systems. I serve as a member of the National Academies Roundtable on Plastics and have attended the United Nations negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty — helping translate cutting-edge science into actionable policy discussions. https://www.imariwalker.com/research daily 0.75 2026-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/3d4b039d-1c7a-4b42-b9dd-37da98a9fd53/16458_MicroplasticsGraphics_v5.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1612633090841-ISKK758J3QG600VWQFAW/Edited.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1612632860286-SUWQ0IR5XF55EQCP9H41/IMG_1789.JPEG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/6e8278fd-3d82-4659-8d98-bfacfcc2356a/LBS_4760.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/576b12a1-d0d9-4cb3-a274-c68b77bef6f6/IMG_3477.jpeg https://www.imariwalker.com/media daily 0.75 2026-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/de4e557d-2f83-4cac-bdc4-a9c9c5850be8/impnnotimp.PNG Media & Speaking A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a burgundy and black dress, smiling against a blue background with text promoting a podcast and a non-profit organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1fd860de-323c-4fd5-9db1-162ab40b63e3/IMG_9752.PNG Media & Speaking Promotional graphic featuring a woman with curly hair and a friendly smile, promoting a Wednesday tune-in event. Text includes 'Tune in on WEDNESDAY' and details about speaker Imari Walker-Franklin from RTI International, with a Tamron Hall logo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/1b277eff-9edc-418a-a32b-bcfe80890b55/Plastic+MIT+EK.png Media & Speaking Book cover titled 'Plastics' by Imari Walker-Franklin and Jenna Jameck, with a graphic of interconnected plastic rings, part of The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/e3bb2603-f4ee-4bb8-8e13-b9c4387bbfeb/skype+a+scientist.jfif Media & Speaking Laptop with the words "Skype a Scientist" and a globe on the screen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/abbe21bc-a11b-4d28-9f21-27ba462e13d7/Tiny+Matters.png Media & Speaking Logo for Tony Masters with stylized text and geometric shapes in teal, black, and white https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/31fabb2d-8609-4b4e-83fd-2259c56fec80/aquathread.jpg Media & Speaking Produced by and recorded at WUGA, aquathread illustrates the connections in our world from land to water to people, and everything in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/7a7b7e72-bf0f-4c78-8d57-d80ba6e3c1f5/6227022D-2B88-47B6-BD6B-B1B2C5D69160.PNG Media & Speaking Reddit Ask me anything https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/24b31333-d84d-4811-9221-0630eb2a9f43/YoutubechannelArt6.jpg Media & Speaking Imari's Youtube Channel Playlist: Plastic Pollution and Solution https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/694b1790-9a0b-4892-8c0a-83a3ed5b13f7/181262_JN82903_V1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/62b76364-e0c5-47e3-bd1c-d7975e3c06dd/RTI_SciComm2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/31fabb2d-8609-4b4e-83fd-2259c56fec80/aquathread.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/82074284-5811-46ec-956a-306bd4cf882f/IMG_9799.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d8d448791a56e58ee952cf9/87052e05-913e-4788-9590-9957fbf4fd8e/Imari_NASEM+2.jpg