On December 5, 2025, the Net0MM team hosted a full-day event at the UBC Alumni Centre, featuring a morning workshop titled “Energy Decarbonization in Materials and Manufacturing” and the Annual Symposium in the afternoon. As part of the symposium, students from our second cohort were invited to deliver presentations on their research.
The workshop welcomed two distinguished speakers – Dr. Normand Mousseau (Université de Montréal) and Dr. Yves Bréchet (Saint-Gobain; Monash University). The session was moderated by Dr. Chad Sinclair, Net0MM Program Director, and explored both Canadian and international perspectives on achieving net-zero targets.
Dr. Mousseau opened the workshop with a presentation outlining Canada’s current position and progress toward its 2050 climate commitments. He highlighted the importance of effective policy and technological pathways that could steer the nation toward its net-zero mandate. Following his talk, attendees engaged in roundtable discussions – raising thoughtful questions and sharing perspectives on Canada’s climate trajectory, priority sectors for decarbonization, and the support required from government and institutional stakeholders.
Joining remotely, Dr. Bréchet offered a global perspective and delivered key messages on decarbonizing materials and manufacturing. He emphasized the need to integrate economic and industrial realities into climate solutions, as well as the importance of social justice to ensure that transitions are inclusive and equitable. His message truly reinforced a central theme of the day: “The world of tomorrow is not given; it must be built. We need your solutions as responsible engineers, and inaction is never an option.”
The afternoon program began with a networking lunch, followed by the Net0MM Annual Symposium. This year’s symposium featured presentations from the second-year cohort, each delivering a 15-20 minute talk on a range of sustainability-focused research topics. Their work spanned molecular design, sustainable polymers and fibers, electrochemical systems, and solar energy materials – demonstrating the breadth and impact of emerging innovations within the program.
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