BPI Seminar by Dr. Edmond Lam
November 8, 2024, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
The ACS GCI Natural Polymers Consortium
Location: CHBE #202, 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4
Agenda
- 12:00 PM Introduction by Dr. Feng Jiang
- 12:05 PM Presentation by Dr. Edmond Lam, Assistant Director, American Chemical Society (ACS) Green Chemistry Institute
- 12:45 PM Q&A
*Sandwiches and coffee will be provided.
Abstract
Plastic, the material of the 20th century, has revolutionized our lives in less than 100 years, but has led to today’s unsolved environmental challenges. What are the sustainable alternative materials to plastic in the 21st century? Current efforts to address the issues associated with plastic use, either through recycling or the development of biobased & biodegradable materials, all have limitations which precludes a complete solution to the plastics problem.
Natural polymers have the potential to provide a more sustainable solution as they are abundant and are part of circular carbon loop. There is a potential to utilize the scientific knowledge gained from the efforts and resources already spent on plastic research and apply them to natural polymers. However, to address the performance, processability, and high cost of translating natural polymer innovations to market-ready products requires broad multidisciplinary collaborations. Therefore, the Natural Polymers Consortium (NPC) was formed in 2024 under the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) to integrate the efforts from industry, academia, and other stakeholders to promote transformative research and application innovations for the industrialization and commercialization of natural polymers. In this talk, Dr. Lam will give an overview of the strategic priorities of the industry-led ACS GCI NPC, as it aims to catalyze the sustainable development, production, and application of natural polymers in material science, and the foundational science that drives the acceptance and inclusion in policy and regulatory processes.
About the Speaker
Edmond Lam is the Assistant Director of the ACS GCI and Office of Sustainability, leading the Sustainable Futures Initiative Grant Program as part of the ACS Campaign for a Sustainable Future, and other aspects of the nexus between industry and academia. Prior to joining the ACS, Edmond was a Senior Research Officer and Team Lead within the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development research centre at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). His research interests include biomass valorization, catalysis, sustainable materials, and synthetic chemistry. He previously served as the Technical Service Lead for the NRC’s Bio-based Specialty Chemicals program which aimed to accelerate the commercial readiness of firms by improving the technologies used to produce higher-value, bio-based specialty chemicals. Edmond received his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Toronto, and a B.Sc. Honors in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia.