My research revolves around designing custom polymers and materials and applying them to address problems in chemical analysis and drug delivery. I have also become increasingly focused on environmental analytical problems and in particular the detection of microplastics in a wide variety of samples. Further details appear on my research pages. I am passionate about science communication and in particular outreach and engagement work with schools. I have run an annual heat of the RSC Schools’ Analyst Competition at UEA for the past 14 years and organised the national final of the event in 2007. I have also done many polymers, materials, spectroscopy and forensic schools events (both at UEA and in schools) to a variety of different age groups from 5 to 18. I am a partnership Governor at my local high school (Pakefield High School, Lowestoft) and also serve on the committee of the RSC Analytical Division East Anglia Region, which organises a variety of technical and social meetings for the analytical community.