Reinventing plastics, one reaction at a time
Interview with Dr. Frank Leibfarth from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about his group's exciting work in polymer chemistry as well as topics related to his collegiate football career and the challenges of managing an academic lab in the era of COVID-19.
Bringing Chemistry to Life · Paolo Braiuca, Frank Leibfarth
Show Notes
Polymer chemistry has been one of the main disruptive forces in the last few decades, having a profound impact on materials used in all applications, enabling new technologies and profoundly impacting everyone’s life. Polymers are at the core of modern material science and despite having generated some concerning environmental challenges, it’s hard to imagine a future without them.
Dr. Leibfarth is one of the most creative minds in polymer chemistry today and he is leading some incredible innovation in the way these materials are made and applied. He shares a fascinating story of elite collegiate American football, science, inspiration and creativity, as well as where different disciplines converge and provide the disruptive force to change paradigms.
Paolo and Frank discuss stereo-controlled polymerization, novel functionalization, exploration of structure-function relationships, as well as Frank's personal and professional growth.
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