Let’s define the problem.

Is there a plastic iceberg in the ocean? No, of course not. Micro plastics are invisible. And it’s going up the food chain. Why is there no solution for complex plastics (like nappies and crisp packets)?

How can we make multifunctional materials with smart polymers for solving grand challenges?

Join host Professor Joao Cabral (Chemical Engineering, Imperial), Professor Alamgir Karim (Chemical Engineering at University of Houston) and Post Doc Researcher Dr. Pedro Nakasu (Imperial) as they discuss the complexity of the life cycle of polymers (plastics) and how it affects the drive towards sustainable waste solutions.

Host Professor Joao Cabral - Professor of Soft Matter, Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial

Joao's links: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/j.cabral

Guests

• Prof Alamgir Karim - Dow Chair and Welch Foundation Professor Director, International Polymer & Soft Matter Center (IPSMC) Alamgir's links: https://www.chee.uh.edu/faculty/karim
• Dr. Pedro Nakasu - Research Associate, Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial Pedro's links: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/p.souza-nakasu17

Topics Discusses in this episode;

• Different types of Polymers and their relationship to waste.
• Challenge in separation processes for recycling.
• Upcycling polymers instead of recycling.
• Fast Fashion and the degradation of fibres.
• Complex plastics (composites) that are difficult to recycle.
• Machines of the Futures to assist with sorting plastic.
• Role of consumers (Cost vs Performance)
• Process of diffusion.
• Smart use of plastics in healthcare.
• Sustainable plastics trending.
• Need for Systems Thinking and transdisciplinary collaborations.

Produced by Annemarie van Basten https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie-van-basten

Additional Links

Imperial Department of Chemical Engineering link - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/

Karim Research Group link - https://karimlab.chee.uh.edu/

Article: Mapping the Chemical Complexity of Plastics link: Mapping the chemical complexity of plastics | Nature

Article: 'Your brain is full of microplastics: are they harming you?' link - Your brain is full of microplastics: are they harming you?

Article: 'Plastic recycling: A panacea or environmental pollution problem' link - Plastic recycling: A panacea or environmental pollution problem | npj Materials Sustainability

In this episode we ask experts in Conservation and Conservation Research about the challenges they face in preserving our history, and why heritage conservation is important in today's times. Do we need more science and engineering researchers in the field of conservation? How is their work impacted by climate change?

This episode is part of our SERCH series (Science and Engineering Research for Cultural Heritage). For more episodes, please look at our episode list.

Guests

Micheal Paraskos - Profile | Imperial College London Evening Class Manager Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication, at Imperial

Jasmin McKenzie - LinkedIn Modern and Contemporary Sculpture and Installations Conservator, PhD student V&A, Imperial

Kate Jennings - Kate Jennings | Tutor at West Dean College Subject Leader, Conservation Studies specialising in Metalwork

Marc Vermeulen - LinkedIn Head of Heritage Science - Conservation Research, at The National Archives

Sonja Schwoll - LinkedIn Head of Conservation and Treatment Development, at The National Archives

Katerina Williams - LinkedIn Book and Paper Conservator, at The National Archives

David Thickett Senior conservation scientist at, English Heritage Home - GoGreen

Lorraine Cornish - LinkedIn Head of Conservation Natural History Museaum

Other Links

Science and Engineering Research for Cultural Heritage (SERCH)

Imperial Futures | About | Imperial College London

Icon - The Institute of Conservation

At the Science and Engineering Research for Cultural Heritage Conference 2025, a panel discussed "Balancing Innovation and Craft: Do Practical Skills Still Matter in the age of AI?" Panel members include;

• Professor Ambrose Taylor (Chair), Professor of Materials Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London

• Professor Pier Luigi Dragotti, Professor of Signal Processing in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London

• Lorraine Cornish, Head of Conservation at Natural History Museum

• Kat Harris, Senior Teaching Technician in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London

Hosted by the Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE) This is the first episode in our SERCH series, produced by Imperial Futures.