On Dec 6th 2024, the Net0MM team organized a successful day-long event at the UBC Alumni Centre, featuring a morning workshop titled “The Ongoing Challenges of Plastic Waste: Needs, Opportunities, and Solutions,” followed by the first Net0MM Annual Symposium in the afternoon.
The morning session was expertly moderated by Love-Ese Chile, who also sits on our program committee. The panel brought together experts from across Canada and the UK, including Susanna Carson (CEO at BSIbio Packaging), James McLellan (Professor at Queen’s University), and Mark Miodownik (Professor at University College London).
Following a brief background information by Love-Ese, panelists delivered concise opening introductions. Thanks to pre-recorded videos shared with attendees in advance, the workshop was able to dive directly into discussions surrounding the global challenges of plastic waste, leading to valuable insights and exchanges. The workshop concluded with Love-Ese’s eloquent wrap-up, for which we genuinely appreciate. We also wish to thank all panelists for their time, expertise, and impactful contributions.
The afternoon program began with a networking lunch, followed by the Net0MM Annual Symposium. This year’s symposium featured presentations by the first-year cohort, each delivering 15–20 minute talks on diverse sustainability topics. Their research addressed key areas such as molecular design, sustainable polymers and fibers, energy efficiency, and the analysis of “invisible” e-waste.
The Net0MM team looks forward to building on the success of this event, continuing to foster collaboration and explore new, exciting topics at the forefront of climate change and net-zero initiatives.