Plastics are everywhere! They’re handy and cheap, which is why their use has increased 20-fold in the last 50 years.

But for all their convenience, we know there are significant economic and environmental drawbacks to plastic.

It’s estimated around 6,300 Mt of plastic waste has been generated since plastics were introduced, of which around 9% was recycled, 12% incinerated, while 79% accumulated in landfills or the natural environment.

If nothing changes, it’s possible by 2050 our oceans could contain more plastics than fish (by weight).

We clearly need to do something to solve this problem, but should we be aiming for a global stop to the use of plastics? Or are we better off focusing on finding innovative ways to redesign and reinvent plastics based on circular economy principles?

Join Dr Bronwyn Laycock as we explore this important global issue.

Watch the recording

Recording of "War against waste" lecture (YouTube, 47m:44s)

Meet the presenter

Dr Bronwyn Laycock

Dr Bronwyn Laycock is a Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland’s School of Chemical Engineering and the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation. Her specialisation is polymer science with a focus on materials for the new plastics economy.

Dr Laycock has a diverse background in translational research. As a former Senior Research Scientist (CSIRO Division of Molecular Science), she was awarded the Joint CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement 2009 for her work on the extended wear contact lenses, which are now recognised as CSIRO’s fourth top invention. She has also been awarded a Joint Chairman’s Award for research/commercialization (CRC for Polymers) and an Excellence in Innovation Award (CRC Association) and holds 15 patents in areas ranging from high temperature aircraft composites to bacterially derived biopolymers.

About BrisScience

BrisScience is a monthly lecture series that brings science out of the labs and to the people, making it accessible to all – from scientists, to scientists-at-heart.

Run by The University of Queensland, BrisScience has been delivering engaging lectures on diverse topics from local and international scientists for over a decade.

BrisScience speakers are leaders in their given fields and deliver dynamic presentations based on cutting-edge research.

The University of Queensland has been running BrisScience since 2005, bringing the best and brightest scientific minds to the people of Brisbane – from early career researchers to Nobel Laureates!

Time6:30pm to 7:30pm (light refreshments 7:30-8pm)
VenueThe Edge, State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Bank
CostFree

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