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What's all this Plastic?!?

Plastics are everywhere in our daily lives? But how much do we really know about them?

This talk begins with a brief history of plastics, exploring how these materials were developed and why they became so widely used. From there, we’ll examine the health, environmental, and societal impacts of our current plastic dependence. What do terms like biosourced, compostable, and recyclable really mean? And how can we separate science from marketing claims and greenwashing?

The program concludes with a safe and engaging chemistry demonstration that reveals how the superabsorbent polymers in disposable diapers work—offering a hands-on look at the remarkable chemistry behind everyday plastics.

The talk will be presented by Rebecca Braslau, Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz. An expert in organic chemistry, Dr. Braslau and her research lab are developing innovative chemical methods to upcycle post-consumer plastic waste into valuable new materials.