There's chemistry in the air!
In this interview with Dr. Cora Young from York University, she and Paolo discuss her work in environmental chemistry to quantitate and do forensic tracing of persistent and problematic pollutants. This touches on the laboratory, modelling and field-based aspects of her work, which includes locations from the Arctic to the home kitchen.
Bringing Chemistry to Life · Paolo Braiuca, Cora Young
Show Notes
If you thought a career in science means spending your best years in a dark laboratory for long, boring hours doing routine experiments, think again! Dr. Cora Young, from York University in Toronto, does a significant part of her environmental chemistry work in the field. From measuring air quality in residential and business spaces, to going high altitude on airplanes, or doing measurements in forests and even in the Arctic.
In this episode, we discuss research in the growing field of environmental chemistry, how it differs from traditional analytical chemistry, and what it means bringing high precision analysis out of controlled laboratory environments. Dr. Young sheds light on how analyzing air quality can have a profound impact on international regulations and quality of life. From understanding emissions of worrisome pollutants such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), to how cooking at home can affect our health, this is a fascinating discovery of the chemistry of air.
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