Imari Walker-Franklin holds a PhD in environmental engineering and is a research scientist at RTI International in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. Additionally, she is a writer, actor, and director for her science communication YouTube channel, which discusses plastic pollution and its possible solutions.

Jenna Jambeck is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor in Environmental Engineering at the University of Georgia, founder of the Circularity Informatics Lab, co-developer of Marine Debris Tracker, a National Geographic Explorer, and a 2022 MacArthur Fellow.