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Symiah Barnett

ECG Bulletin January 2023
Symiah completed her undergraduate  degree in Applied Chemistry at Aston  university in June 2021. As of October  2021, Symiah is a Natural Environment  Research Council (NERC) funded PhD  student at Loughborough University. Her  project is focussed on monitoring  microplastics and nanoplastics in rivers  and marine environments over long time  periods to better understand their  formation, transportation, and fate. 
What inspired you to become a scientist?
As a child I had lots of questions and I remember my science classes providing a lot of the answers. Science appeared as a way of understanding the world around me. There is nothing that you can look at that you cannot explain or explore via science, and I have been able to learn a lot more about the world throughout the course of my chemistry degree.
How did you come to specialise in plastic pollution?
During my undergraduate degree, I completed a summer placement at the Archipelagos Institute of Marine  Conservation  in  Greece. This is where I discovered that I wanted to tackle the environmental problem of microplastics in water. I loved the idea of continuing research in microplastic pollution; therefore, I started my research project at both Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation and Loughborough University, working on microplastics and nanoplastics in rivers and marine environments.

Could you describe your current job?
My  project is multi-disciplinary, which requires me to carry out  a  vast  range  of  tasks  such  as  analysing  samples  using  a  variety of techniques (e.g. FTIR, ICP-MS and GS-MS). There is kayaking, freediving and scuba-diving to collect samples.  Or  sitting  in  front  of  a  computer  screen  searching  for  articles or data. No day or week is the same for me.
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What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in environmental chemistry?
Create  and  take  every  opportunity  possible because you don’t know where it will lead you. But  more importantly, believe in yourself.

What are some of the challenges facing the environmental chemistry community?Not enough listening amongst people. Whether that is the scientist not being listened to by governments and organisations,  or local groups and communities not being heard by scientists. There is an overall lack of understanding and collaboration.   

What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?Whilst carrying out fieldwork in Samos (Greece), the local people came over to us and thanked us dearly. This had to be the most  rewarding moment because it was at that  moment I realised our work was making a difference to the local community.

If you weren’t a scientist, what would you do?
I  would  be  a  Humanitarian  aid  worker  because I really enjoy helping people and making a positive  difference.  Additionally, I love working around the world.

And what do you do when you are not working?
When I am not working, I am traveling! Most  of the time I have to travel locally.  But when I have a lot of  time off, I enjoy backpacking across countries. My aim is  to  visit  every  country  in  Europe  and  Southern  and  Central  America. And if I am not travelling, I am sleeping! ​
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  • Home
  • About
    • Committee
    • Annual reports
  • Environmental Briefs
  • Distinguished Guest Lectures
    • 2022 Disposable Attitude: Electronics in the Environment >
      • Steve Cottle
      • Ian Williams
      • Fiona Dear
    • 2019 Radioactive Waste Disposal >
      • Juliet Long
    • 2018 Biopollution: Antimicrobial resistance in the environment >
      • Andrew Singer
      • Celia Manaia
    • 2017 Inside the Engine >
      • Frank Kelly
      • Claire Holman
      • Jacqui Hamilton
      • Simon Birkett
    • 2016 Geoengineering >
      • Alan Robock
      • Joanna Haigh
      • David Santillo
      • Mike Stephenson
    • 2015 Nanomaterials >
      • Eugenia Valsami-Jones
      • Debora F Rodrigues
      • David Spurgeon
    • 2014 Plastic debris in the ocean >
      • Richard Thompson
      • Norman Billingham
    • 2013 Rare earths and other scarce metals >
      • Thomas Graedel
      • David Merriman
      • Michael Pitts
      • Andrea Sella
      • Adrian Chapman
    • 2012 Energy, waste and resources >
      • RAFFAELLA VILLA
      • PAUL WILLIAMS
      • Kris Wadrop
    • 2011 The Nitrogen Cycle – in a fix?
    • 2010 Technology and the use of coal
    • 2009 The future of water >
      • J.A. (Tony) Allen
      • John W. Sawkins
    • 2008 The Science of Carbon Trading >
      • Jon Lovett
      • Matthew Owen
      • Terry barker
      • Nigel Mortimer
    • 2007 Environmental chemistry in the Polar Regions >
      • Eric Wolff
      • Tim JICKELLS
      • Anna Jones
    • 2006 The impact of climate change on air quality >
      • Michael Pilling
      • GUANG ZENG
    • 2005 DGL Metals in the environment: estimation, health impacts and toxicology
    • 2004 Environmental Chemistry from Space
  • Articles, reviews & updates
    • Articles
    • Reviews
    • Updates
  • Meetings
    • Upcoming meetings
    • Meeting reports
  • Resources
  • Professional Qualifications
  • Index