Dr. Dativa Joseph Shilla holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Ryukyus, Japan, and an MSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), with over 15 years of experience in teaching, research, and community service in the areas of environmental chemistry, energy, and industrial chemistry. Her research focuses on environmental contaminants, particularly in aquatic environments, using advanced analytical techniques. Dr. Shilla has expanded her work to include emerging issues like microplastic pollution and has published over 20 papers.