Swindon Science Cafe - Making and Unmaking Sustainable Plastics

Plastics are essential for modern life: they keep food and medicines fresh and safe; they enable light-weight vehicles and aircraft; they insulate and protect buildings; and they are essential components of most manufactured goods from consumer electronics to medical devices.

However, this widespread use of plastics causes major environmental challenges. Plastic manufacturing consumes significant quantities of fossil resources and discarded plastic pollutes the natural world.

Join the discussion as we explore how developments in chemistry can help replace current plastics with new materials that are made from sustainable building blocks, that are more amenable to recycling at end-of-life, and that have reduced environmental impact.

Matthew Davidson is Whorrod Professor of Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Executive Director of the University of Bath Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change, Executive Director of the Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies and Director of the CDT in Sustainable Chemical Technologies: A Systems Approach. His research focuses on the application of molecular chemistry and catalysis to sustainable chemical processes such as manufacture of renewable fuels, chemicals and plastics.

He graduated in Chemistry from the University of Wales, Swansea and received a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Following a Research Fellowship at St John’s College, Cambridge, he held Lectureships in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and Durham University before being appointed to a Chair of Chemistry at Bath in 1999. Much of his work involves close collaboration with industry and he has held a Royal Society Industry Fellowship. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a previous recipient of its Harrison Memorial Prize.

SWINDON SCIENCE CAFE

Science Cafes are an informal opportunity to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Rather than a long lecture, you can expect a lively, two-way conversation with a researcher - over a drink or two!

Everyone is welcome to come and express their views or just enjoy a drink and listen. No scientific knowledge is needed to take part - just bring your curiosity, and maybe your own bottle of choice.

A selection of light refreshments will be available in return for a donation, or you are welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks with you.

WHEN: The first Tuesday of each month from 7pm - 9pm.

WHERE: Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST) Creative Hub located in the iconic Carriage Works. 10 Carriage Works, Unit 7B, London Street, Swindon, SN1 5FBEnter the following three words into the What Three Words app to find the exact location:

Front entrance: ///friday.index.solo

Rear entrance: ///cups.shell.face

The Festival of Tomorrow

The Royal Agriculture University

Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology

The University of Bath Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST)

Please note that filming/photography will take place at this event for promotional purposes. The photographs made may appear on the organising committee websites, on social media or in press releases relating to the event.

If you would prefer not to be photographed please let the organisers know.

Host or Publisher Festival of Tomorrow 2021