When Polymers walk into a Pub

Raise your pint, let's have a cheer
For plastics far, and plastics near

They wrap us to keep us warm
But also linger causing harm

Why are plastics tough to reuse,
So tricky that they often refuse

Can chemistry fix the chain,
And turn old waste to new again?

Could all the waste we see today
Become a resource in some way?

So drink your pint and check it out,
How chemistry can sort plastics out.

Most polymers are electrical insulators. However some polymers are semiconductors, providing a new class of materials for electronics and light emission. They can be used to make lasers, solar cells and light emitting diodes that can be lightweight and flexible. We will explain how polymers can conduct electricity and how their light emission can be used for displays, communication and medicine.

Every second, over 30 million chemical reactions occur within our bodies. These reactions are regulated by one of the biopolymers (enzymes), and nearly 75000 of these enzymes enable us to perform daily activities such as waking up, generating energy, and defending ourselves in this stressful world! In this talk, I will take you on a fascinating journey to explore how efficiently these tiny machines assist humanity in solving some of society's most challenging problems, including in medicine for cancer detection and treatment, and how enzymes are harnessed to help us move towards a sustainable, green planet.

You should attend this talk if you love learning how the human body is one of the best machines in the world, and I can show you behind the scenes as well, revealing how these lovely biopolymers are the pilots of many of the activities you perform during the day.