Zoie Diana

Zoie T. Diana is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist interested in anthropogenic pollution, primarily microplastics, including (1) sources and fate, (2) environmental health effects on aquatic biota, and (3) policy and management solutions. Diana’s research uses approaches from environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, aquatic biology, and the social sciences. Recent publications include "Paint: a ubiquitous yet disregarded piece of the microplastics puzzle" (Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2025), and "Make secondary microplastics a primary UN concern" (Nature, 2024). At Barnard, Diana will teach EESC BC3300, Workshop in Sustainable Development, and EESC BC3800, Senior Seminar.

Diana is dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and decision-makers and has collaborated directly with diverse stakeholders, including NGOs, governments, companies, and multilateral financial institutions. She communicates research broadly and has presented her work to a variety of audiences, including the United Nations, biotech companies, and elementary school assemblies. She is the founder and director of the Litter League, a science-based community outreach organization on a mission to end plastic pollution. Her work has been covered by 70+ media outlets, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Hill.

Prior to joining Barnard College, Diana was a Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Chelsea Rochman's lab at the University of Toronto, where she founded the Paint Microplastic Network. During her Ph.D., she co-founded and led an interdisciplinary Plastic Pollution Working Group.