Welcome to Sustainability and Materials.
In this class we will explore together sustainability implications around:
- How we produce, use, and discard of materials and products, emphasizing different material classes
- Emerging and disruptive technologies
This is a rapidly evolving field. In popular culture, this discourse can be riddled with fear and anxiety. Here, we aim to step away from the emotional discourse, instead equipping ourselves with a knowledge base and problem-solving mindset.
Some topics that I hope to touch upon with you (in no particular order):
- What is this "buzz" word sustainability all about?
- The value chain - understanding where our products come from and where they go once we are done with them.
- Linear vs circular models
- How do we measure circularity? Impact?
- Green chemistry
- Plastics - an increasingly complicated subject
- Scarce and conflict materials
- Recycling across material classes - where are we really?
- What defines biodegradability?
- Disruptive technologies
- The carbon market
- Bio-based materials instead of petrol-based materials
- Professor: Tiffany Abitbol
- Teacher: Anna Koptelova
- Teacher: Inyoung Yonah Lee
