The term ‘emerging contaminants’ is used to describe numerous chemicals associated with modern human lifestyle that have inadvertently worked their way into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. As humans have developed new treatments for diseases, safer cosmetics, and more potent pesticides, we have also created new pollutants which are having significant unintended consequences on organismal and ecosystem health. In this Inspire session, speakers will present novel research on the ecological effects of several key emerging contaminants, including opioids, veterinary antibiotics, human-use antibiotics, and insecticides, across scales from microbial to ecosystem. The goal of the session is to not only provide the audience with an understanding of the potential effects of different types of contaminants, but to highlight similarities among the contaminants regarding their fate and transport in ecosystems. Speakers will also present on the variety of methods and approaches they have used to tackle the complex problem of new contaminants, with a particular focus on cross-site comparisons, and potential impacts on natural resource management. This session aims to bring an integrative and holistic approach to emerging contaminants, highlighting opportunities for future research and policy-making.