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Environmental Sources
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Insights into technical challenges in the field of microplastic pollution through the lens of early career researchers (ECRs) and a proposed pathway forward
Frontiers in Earth Science2023
6 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 40
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Ben Williams,
Chen Tu,
Yujian Lai,
Qiqing Chen,
Ben Williams,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Ben Williams,
Ben Williams,
Ben Williams,
Ben Williams,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Qiqing Chen,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Ben Williams,
Chen Tu,
Ben Williams,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Chen Tu,
Alice A. Horton,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Holly Nel
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alice A. Horton,
Holly Nel
Chen Tu,
Holly Nel
Alice A. Horton,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Alice A. Horton,
Yini Ma,
Holly Nel
Chen Tu,
Qiqing Chen,
Yini Ma,
Jiana Li,
Chen Tu,
Alice A. Horton,
Jiana Li,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Alice A. Horton,
Jiana Li,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Jiana Li,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Jiana Li,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Qiqing Chen,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Holly Nel
Thomas H. Stanton,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Alice A. Horton,
Chen Tu,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Qiqing Chen,
Holly Nel
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Ruilong Li,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Holly Nel
Qiqing Chen,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Qiqing Chen,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Qiqing Chen,
Ruilong Li,
Hazel Beaumont,
Ruilong Li,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Alice A. Horton,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Holly Nel
Ruilong Li,
Alice A. Horton,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Joseph Levermore,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Yujian Lai,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Yujian Lai,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Ben Williams,
Chen Tu,
Ben Williams,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Hazel Beaumont,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Stefanie Nolte,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Holly Nel
Alice A. Horton,
Holly Nel
Alice A. Horton,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Joseph Levermore,
Joseph Levermore,
Joseph Levermore,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Jiana Li,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Huahong Shi,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Alice A. Horton,
Holly Nel
Hazel Beaumont,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Yujian Lai,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Ben Williams,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Evangelos Danopoulos,
Joseph Levermore,
Joseph Levermore,
Ruilong Li,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Stefanie Nolte,
Stefanie Nolte,
Huahong Shi,
Alice A. Horton,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Qiqing Chen,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Holly Nel
Ruilong Li,
Huahong Shi,
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Ruilong Li,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Joseph Levermore,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Yujian Lai,
Huahong Shi,
Ben Williams,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Huahong Shi,
Ben Williams,
Qiqing Chen,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Jiana Li,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Huahong Shi,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Chen Tu,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Yujian Lai,
Joseph Levermore,
Ruilong Li,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Alice A. Horton,
Alice A. Horton,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Stefanie Nolte,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Chen Tu,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Holly Nel
Huahong Shi,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Jiana Li,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Yini Ma,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Yini Ma,
Yini Ma,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Joseph Levermore,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Ruilong Li,
Huahong Shi,
Ruilong Li,
Chen Tu,
Holly Nel
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Ruilong Li,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Qiqing Chen,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Jiana Li,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Ruilong Li,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Holly Nel
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Thomas H. Stanton,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Yini Ma,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Qiqing Chen,
Yini Ma,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Holly Nel
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Jiana Li,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Jiana Li,
Chen Tu,
Ruilong Li,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Ben Williams,
Huahong Shi,
Qiqing Chen,
Ruilong Li,
Qiqing Chen,
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Ruilong Li,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Alice A. Horton,
Huahong Shi,
Yujian Lai,
Ruilong Li,
Qiqing Chen,
Chen Tu,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alice A. Horton,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Stefanie Nolte,
Yini Ma,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Ruilong Li,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Qiqing Chen,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Huahong Shi,
Jiana Li,
Ruilong Li,
Huahong Shi,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Lucrecia Alvarez Barrantes,
Huahong Shi,
Chen Tu,
Chen Tu,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Alice A. Horton,
Yini Ma,
Hazel Beaumont,
Huahong Shi,
Joseph Levermore,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Ben Williams,
Mark G.J. Hartl,
Huahong Shi,
Jeanette M. Rotchell,
Holly Nel
Jiana Li,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Thomas H. Stanton,
Holly Nel
Holly Nel
Summary
A network of early-career microplastic researchers from the UK and China identified the major technical barriers holding back the field: difficulty obtaining representative samples, lack of access to clean labs and standardized equipment, poor comparability of data across studies, and insufficient training. The paper proposes practical solutions including open-access databases, shared training resources, and broader international collaboration. Addressing these infrastructure gaps is important because the quality and comparability of microplastic pollution data directly affects our ability to assess environmental and health risks.
Early career researchers (ECR) face a series of challenges related to the inherent difficulties of starting their careers. Microplastic (MP) research is a topical field attracting high numbers of ECRs with diverse backgrounds and expertise from a wealth of disciplines including environmental science, biology, chemistry and ecotoxicology. In this perspective the challenges that could hinder scientific, professional, or personal development are explored, as identified by an international network of ECRs, all employed in MP research, that was formed following a bilateral workshop for scientists based in the UK and China. Discussions amongst the network were grouped into four overarching themes of technical challenges: in the field, in the laboratory, in the post data collection phase, and miscellaneous. The three key areas of representativeness, access to appropriate resources, training, and clean labs, and the use of databases and comparability, as well as the overarching constraint of available time were identified as the source of the majority of challenges. A set of recommendations for pathways forward are proposed based on the principles of research openness, access to information and training, and widening collaborations. ECRs have great capacity to promote research excellence in the field of MPs and elsewhere, when provided with appropriate opportunities and suitable support.