in high school I dreaded lunchtime there were times when I wouldn’t leave the
were times when I wouldn’t leave the
were times when I wouldn’t leave the classroom at lunch because I felt safer
classroom at lunch because I felt safer
classroom at lunch because I felt safer inside than out there there were times
inside than out there there were times
inside than out there there were times when I wouldn’t speak out loud because
when I wouldn’t speak out loud because
when I wouldn’t speak out loud because it felt dreadful in case someone thought
it felt dreadful in case someone thought
it felt dreadful in case someone thought I sounded funny or got something to eat
I sounded funny or got something to eat
I sounded funny or got something to eat that someone found worth walking it was
that someone found worth walking it was
that someone found worth walking it was an awful awful time and a time in which
an awful awful time and a time in which
an awful awful time and a time in which even till recently would come back to me
even till recently would come back to me
even till recently would come back to me in my bad dreams I’d love to be able to
in my bad dreams I’d love to be able to
in my bad dreams I’d love to be able to say that that experience made me a
say that that experience made me a
say that that experience made me a better person that I remembered it when
better person that I remembered it when
better person that I remembered it when the next new kid came to school that I
the next new kid came to school that I
the next new kid came to school that I reached out and tried to help them
reached out and tried to help them
reached out and tried to help them because I didn’t want them to go through
because I didn’t want them to go through
because I didn’t want them to go through what I went through unfortunately that’s
what I went through unfortunately that’s
what I went through unfortunately that’s not the choice I made
not the choice I made
not the choice I made I became worse I initially joined the
I became worse I initially joined the
I became worse I initially joined the cool kids club through sports and by
cool kids club through sports and by
cool kids club through sports and by letting people copy my homework and I
letting people copy my homework and I
letting people copy my homework and I cemented my spot with them by bullying I
cemented my spot with them by bullying I
cemented my spot with them by bullying I picked on new kids I made one of my
picked on new kids I made one of my
picked on new kids I made one of my classmates the punching bag for the
classmates the punching bag for the
classmates the punching bag for the school I stole detention slips from
school I stole detention slips from
school I stole detention slips from teachers and gave them out to kids for
teachers and gave them out to kids for
teachers and gave them out to kids for being fat or lame or stupid I was
being fat or lame or stupid I was
being fat or lame or stupid I was tireless and without balance and I would
tireless and without balance and I would
tireless and without balance and I would stop at nothing to push my victims to
stop at nothing to push my victims to
stop at nothing to push my victims to the brink so much so in fact did the boy
the brink so much so in fact did the boy
the brink so much so in fact did the boy that I picked on the most in high school
that I picked on the most in high school
that I picked on the most in high school Gary won smashed a glass bottle in the
Gary won smashed a glass bottle in the
Gary won smashed a glass bottle in the courtyard and pointed a shard of glass
courtyard and pointed a shard of glass
courtyard and pointed a shard of glass at me daring me to push one more inch I
at me daring me to push one more inch I
at me daring me to push one more inch I didn’t not that day but I did the next
didn’t not that day but I did the next
didn’t not that day but I did the next it wasn’t as if people around me at the
it wasn’t as if people around me at the
it wasn’t as if people around me at the time weren’t there to tell me that this
time weren’t there to tell me that this
time weren’t there to tell me that this is not how I should be acting I was
is not how I should be acting I was
is not how I should be acting I was constantly told by my family my teachers
constantly told by my family my teachers
constantly told by my family my teachers even some of my friends did I had to be
even some of my friends did I had to be
even some of my friends did I had to be better than this and yet despite hearing
better than this and yet despite hearing
better than this and yet despite hearing everything that was said I listened to
everything that was said I listened to
everything that was said I listened to none of it I was
none of it I was
none of it I was quite literally deaf to it and he was
quite literally deaf to it and he was
quite literally deaf to it and he was only four or five years ago did I
only four or five years ago did I
only four or five years ago did I realized that it was my fear of being
realized that it was my fear of being
realized that it was my fear of being bullied again that none my senses back
bullied again that none my senses back
bullied again that none my senses back then it was my fear of being made the
then it was my fear of being made the
then it was my fear of being made the victim again that made me so cruel to my
victim again that made me so cruel to my
victim again that made me so cruel to my victims I was bent on fitting in even if
victims I was bent on fitting in even if
victims I was bent on fitting in even if it came at the expense of others
it came at the expense of others
it came at the expense of others well-being and happiness it was around
well-being and happiness it was around
well-being and happiness it was around this time that the realization struck me
this time that the realization struck me
this time that the realization struck me that I stumbled across Randy Cuse on a
that I stumbled across Randy Cuse on a
that I stumbled across Randy Cuse on a 55 year-old man who’d spent most of his
55 year-old man who’d spent most of his
55 year-old man who’d spent most of his adult life fighting fires in the oil
adult life fighting fires in the oil
adult life fighting fires in the oil pouch and he put my fire out pretty good
pouch and he put my fire out pretty good
pouch and he put my fire out pretty good too when I first met him he decided not
too when I first met him he decided not
too when I first met him he decided not to invest in the first startup that I
to invest in the first startup that I
to invest in the first startup that I tried but Randy did give me a second
tried but Randy did give me a second
tried but Randy did give me a second chance
chance
chance by asking me if I join his company to
by asking me if I join his company to
by asking me if I join his company to try to develop new technologies that we
try to develop new technologies that we
try to develop new technologies that we could take to the real world and that
could take to the real world and that
could take to the real world and that wasn’t the only chance that Randy took
wasn’t the only chance that Randy took
wasn’t the only chance that Randy took his partner Greg and Randy decided
his partner Greg and Randy decided
his partner Greg and Randy decided within a year of me joining the company
within a year of me joining the company
within a year of me joining the company that we’re gonna try to solve one major
that we’re gonna try to solve one major
that we’re gonna try to solve one major problem that we all face today as
problem that we all face today as
problem that we all face today as humanity the problem of the global
humanity the problem of the global
humanity the problem of the global emissions of co2 humanity emitted over
emissions of co2 humanity emitted over
emissions of co2 humanity emitted over 40 billion tons of co2 in 2015 and to
40 billion tons of co2 in 2015 and to
40 billion tons of co2 in 2015 and to give you an idea of how big that number
give you an idea of how big that number
give you an idea of how big that number is it’s literally a hundred times more
is it’s literally a hundred times more
is it’s literally a hundred times more than the weight of every single human
than the weight of every single human
than the weight of every single human being on the planet every single 7
being on the planet every single 7
being on the planet every single 7 billion plus one of them but for a non
billion plus one of them but for a non
billion plus one of them but for a non toxic gas that doesn’t even smell it has
toxic gas that doesn’t even smell it has
toxic gas that doesn’t even smell it has a pretty bad rap it’s usually talked
a pretty bad rap it’s usually talked
a pretty bad rap it’s usually talked about in the same vein as toxic
about in the same vein as toxic
about in the same vein as toxic emissions or acid rain but I think it’s
emissions or acid rain but I think it’s
emissions or acid rain but I think it’s important that we establish some
important that we establish some
important that we establish some perspective on co2 co2 is a big problem
perspective on co2 co2 is a big problem
perspective on co2 co2 is a big problem in terms of the excess emissions that we
in terms of the excess emissions that we
in terms of the excess emissions that we have in the atmosphere but does it
have in the atmosphere but does it
have in the atmosphere but does it really justify being villainized do we
really justify being villainized do we
really justify being villainized do we really have to look at co2 as a villain
really have to look at co2 as a villain
really have to look at co2 as a villain co2 is made of two elements carbon and
co2 is made of two elements carbon and
co2 is made of two elements carbon and oxygen and if you were to break the
oxygen and if you were to break the
oxygen and if you were to break the human body into the various elements
human body into the various elements
human body into the various elements that make us over 80% of the human body
that make us over 80% of the human body
that make us over 80% of the human body is the same
is the same
is the same elements carbon and oxygen I don’t
elements carbon and oxygen I don’t
elements carbon and oxygen I don’t believe the co2 is the enemy and I don’t
believe the co2 is the enemy and I don’t
believe the co2 is the enemy and I don’t think that a low-carbon future is the
think that a low-carbon future is the
think that a low-carbon future is the vision that we should strive for instead
vision that we should strive for instead
vision that we should strive for instead I think that this loop of co2 needs to
I think that this loop of co2 needs to
I think that this loop of co2 needs to be closed
be closed
be closed the co2 needs to be used and reused
the co2 needs to be used and reused
the co2 needs to be used and reused instead of being emitted into the
instead of being emitted into the
instead of being emitted into the atmosphere or buried underground I guess
atmosphere or buried underground I guess
atmosphere or buried underground I guess what I’m trying to say is what if we
what I’m trying to say is what if we
what I’m trying to say is what if we gave co2 a second chance what if we
gave co2 a second chance what if we
gave co2 a second chance what if we could turn co2 into something valuable
could turn co2 into something valuable
could turn co2 into something valuable traditionally people look at co2 and
traditionally people look at co2 and
traditionally people look at co2 and capture the same way that we catch water
capture the same way that we catch water
capture the same way that we catch water with our sponge in our kitchens we take
with our sponge in our kitchens we take
with our sponge in our kitchens we take fine powders we squeeze some co2 in only
fine powders we squeeze some co2 in only
fine powders we squeeze some co2 in only to have that co2 wrung out and inject it
to have that co2 wrung out and inject it
to have that co2 wrung out and inject it into geological formations it’s buried
into geological formations it’s buried
into geological formations it’s buried deep beneath the earth literally like a
deep beneath the earth literally like a
deep beneath the earth literally like a waste that needs to be forgotten about
waste that needs to be forgotten about
waste that needs to be forgotten about as something that has no potential of
as something that has no potential of
as something that has no potential of value or for change but our approach is
value or for change but our approach is
value or for change but our approach is different
different
different we take low-cost powders like pet coke
we take low-cost powders like pet coke
we take low-cost powders like pet coke or fly ash or graphite like in this jar
or fly ash or graphite like in this jar
or fly ash or graphite like in this jar and we capture co2 in this stabilizing
and we capture co2 in this stabilizing
and we capture co2 in this stabilizing it into a solid form this powder that I
it into a solid form this powder that I
it into a solid form this powder that I hold here today is about 20% co2 that
hold here today is about 20% co2 that
hold here today is about 20% co2 that we’ve captured the intent here is not to
we’ve captured the intent here is not to
we’ve captured the intent here is not to readmit this but to keep it in this form
readmit this but to keep it in this form
readmit this but to keep it in this form now you might be wondering so what now
now you might be wondering so what now
now you might be wondering so what now like is this powder worth anything
like is this powder worth anything
like is this powder worth anything except to store co2 and that’s a very
except to store co2 and that’s a very
except to store co2 and that’s a very valid question about two and a half
valid question about two and a half
valid question about two and a half years ago when we embarked on this
years ago when we embarked on this
years ago when we embarked on this journey that was one of the first
journey that was one of the first
journey that was one of the first questions that we had and we had
questions that we had and we had
questions that we had and we had absolutely no idea and so we reached out
absolutely no idea and so we reached out
absolutely no idea and so we reached out we used our curiosity try to follow the
we used our curiosity try to follow the
we used our curiosity try to follow the scientific method and really just took
scientific method and really just took
scientific method and really just took wherever the internet took us we used
wherever the internet took us we used
wherever the internet took us we used Google we use LinkedIn we crete
Google we use LinkedIn we crete
Google we use LinkedIn we crete professors on facebook and and really
professors on facebook and and really
professors on facebook and and really just try to see if anyone could take
just try to see if anyone could take
just try to see if anyone could take some of this and help us see if it has
some of this and help us see if it has
some of this and help us see if it has value if this powder was worth something
value if this powder was worth something
value if this powder was worth something and what we found since then has been
and what we found since then has been
and what we found since then has been quite a story we found that it can be
quite a story we found that it can be
quite a story we found that it can be used in concrete like in our buildings
used in concrete like in our buildings
used in concrete like in our buildings to make them as much as 35% stronger we
to make them as much as 35% stronger we
to make them as much as 35% stronger we found that it can be used in garbage
found that it can be used in garbage
found that it can be used in garbage bags and yoga mats and other
bags and yoga mats and other
bags and yoga mats and other sticks to make them as much as 22%
sticks to make them as much as 22%
sticks to make them as much as 22% stronger while also making them more
stronger while also making them more
stronger while also making them more sustainable for the world we’ve even
sustainable for the world we’ve even
sustainable for the world we’ve even found that a derivative of this powder
found that a derivative of this powder
found that a derivative of this powder can be used as a coating on solar panels
can be used as a coating on solar panels
can be used as a coating on solar panels to increase their efficiency at
to increase their efficiency at
to increase their efficiency at harnessing the power of the Sun and
harnessing the power of the Sun and
harnessing the power of the Sun and creating electricity that we can use but
creating electricity that we can use but
creating electricity that we can use but by far the most awe-inspiring result
by far the most awe-inspiring result
by far the most awe-inspiring result that we’ve seen in the last two years is
that we’ve seen in the last two years is
that we’ve seen in the last two years is when an Associated researcher found that
when an Associated researcher found that
when an Associated researcher found that this can be used in pharmaceutical drug
this can be used in pharmaceutical drug
this can be used in pharmaceutical drug delivery we found that this powder can
delivery we found that this powder can
delivery we found that this powder can store as much as 10 times more medicinal
store as much as 10 times more medicinal
store as much as 10 times more medicinal drugs to target cancer cells in the
drugs to target cancer cells in the
drugs to target cancer cells in the human body and that’s important what it
human body and that’s important what it
human body and that’s important what it means is that we can target more
means is that we can target more
means is that we can target more aggressive tumors and even at later
aggressive tumors and even at later
aggressive tumors and even at later stages of detection be able to attack
stages of detection be able to attack
stages of detection be able to attack and improve chances of recovery for
and improve chances of recovery for
and improve chances of recovery for patients that otherwise would not have
patients that otherwise would not have
patients that otherwise would not have as much of a chance today I believe that
as much of a chance today I believe that
as much of a chance today I believe that it’s those kind of results the ones the
it’s those kind of results the ones the
it’s those kind of results the ones the show the co2 could be looked at as a
show the co2 could be looked at as a
show the co2 could be looked at as a bully or as a villain but rather as a
bully or as a villain but rather as a
bully or as a villain but rather as a molecule that deserves a second chance I
molecule that deserves a second chance I
molecule that deserves a second chance I believe that it is results like the
believe that it is results like the
believe that it is results like the pharmaceutical work in the plastics that
pharmaceutical work in the plastics that
pharmaceutical work in the plastics that have led us into the Carbon XPrize a
have led us into the Carbon XPrize a
have led us into the Carbon XPrize a global competition that is between
global competition that is between
global competition that is between companies that can take co2 and create
companies that can take co2 and create
companies that can take co2 and create valuable products from them we’re on
valuable products from them we’re on
valuable products from them we’re on track to scale up our production to a
track to scale up our production to a
track to scale up our production to a few hundred kilos of this powder a day
few hundred kilos of this powder a day
few hundred kilos of this powder a day by the end of the year the potential of
by the end of the year the potential of
by the end of the year the potential of this as a commercial product that
this as a commercial product that
this as a commercial product that excites us we have already
excites us we have already
excites us we have already commercialized one application of this
commercialized one application of this
commercialized one application of this in paints to protect concrete from
in paints to protect concrete from
in paints to protect concrete from corrosion and we hope to do more in the
corrosion and we hope to do more in the
corrosion and we hope to do more in the next year or two and it is these kind of
next year or two and it is these kind of
next year or two and it is these kind of results that drive us every day that
results that drive us every day that
results that drive us every day that make us feel that co2 does deserve a
make us feel that co2 does deserve a
make us feel that co2 does deserve a second chance
second chance
second chance many of us are wary of giving our second
many of us are wary of giving our second
many of us are wary of giving our second chances and I understand that the world
chances and I understand that the world
chances and I understand that the world is much better and simpler to look at
is much better and simpler to look at
is much better and simpler to look at when we think about it in terms of good
when we think about it in terms of good
when we think about it in terms of good and bad of black and white no villains
and bad of black and white no villains
and bad of black and white no villains and heroes and of bullies and victims
and heroes and of bullies and victims
and heroes and of bullies and victims but at a g2 consider though there’s
but at a g2 consider though there’s
but at a g2 consider though there’s writing things off whether they be
writing things off whether they be
writing things off whether they be people places or ideas really help
people places or ideas really help
people places or ideas really help because I’d suggest that it actually
because I’d suggest that it actually
because I’d suggest that it actually stifles innovation in our evolution and
stifles innovation in our evolution and
stifles innovation in our evolution and only feeds the status quo even to this
only feeds the status quo even to this
only feeds the status quo even to this day my mind wanders back to those days
day my mind wanders back to those days
day my mind wanders back to those days in high school when I made life
in high school when I made life
in high school when I made life miserable to many of the people that I
miserable to many of the people that I
miserable to many of the people that I saw at school I think back to the people
saw at school I think back to the people
saw at school I think back to the people that stood by me in those times and when
that stood by me in those times and when
that stood by me in those times and when things get rough at work I feel that I
things get rough at work I feel that I
things get rough at work I feel that I owe it to these people not to give up on
owe it to these people not to give up on
owe it to these people not to give up on this problem just the way that they
this problem just the way that they
this problem just the way that they didn’t give up on me I feel there’s no
didn’t give up on me I feel there’s no
didn’t give up on me I feel there’s no more meaningful way for me to try to
more meaningful way for me to try to
more meaningful way for me to try to redeem myself I talked earlier about
redeem myself I talked earlier about
redeem myself I talked earlier about that moment in the courtyard when Gary
that moment in the courtyard when Gary
that moment in the courtyard when Gary dared me to push one more inch I’m
dared me to push one more inch I’m
dared me to push one more inch I’m trying to push one more inch today
trying to push one more inch today
trying to push one more inch today slowly by in a more positive direction
even to this day I feel fortunate that
even to this day I feel fortunate that 10 years ago as a bully there were
10 years ago as a bully there were
10 years ago as a bully there were people that stood by me even though I
people that stood by me even though I
people that stood by me even though I let them down over and over again and
let them down over and over again and
let them down over and over again and I’d urge you all to give second chances
I’d urge you all to give second chances
I’d urge you all to give second chances more often because I believe that if we
more often because I believe that if we
more often because I believe that if we are willing to re-examine ideas places
are willing to re-examine ideas places
are willing to re-examine ideas places or people that were written off we might
or people that were written off we might
or people that were written off we might just find that they’re full of
just find that they’re full of
just find that they’re full of possibility I believe that co2 deserves
possibility I believe that co2 deserves
possibility I believe that co2 deserves a second chance and I believe that it’d
a second chance and I believe that it’d
a second chance and I believe that it’d be the most wonderful thing if everyone
be the most wonderful thing if everyone
be the most wonderful thing if everyone can start asking if co2 could be used
can start asking if co2 could be used
can start asking if co2 could be used for this or that or something else
for this or that or something else
for this or that or something else because I believe the second chance for
because I believe the second chance for
because I believe the second chance for co2 or this powder could come from
co2 or this powder could come from
co2 or this powder could come from anyone including you and I hope that is
anyone including you and I hope that is
anyone including you and I hope that is this kind of open curiosity that leads
this kind of open curiosity that leads
this kind of open curiosity that leads us into the future
us into the future
us into the future as it is this that has led us to this
as it is this that has led us to this
as it is this that has led us to this point today humanity advanced around the
point today humanity advanced around the
point today humanity advanced around the Stone Age through the iron the bronze
Stone Age through the iron the bronze
Stone Age through the iron the bronze the Industrial Ages all the way through
the Industrial Ages all the way through
the Industrial Ages all the way through to the information age that we live in
to the information age that we live in
to the information age that we live in today but I believe that this is still
today but I believe that this is still
today but I believe that this is still only but a progression in our journey
only but a progression in our journey
only but a progression in our journey and that the next step will be the
and that the next step will be the
and that the next step will be the carbon age an age full of possibilities
carbon age an age full of possibilities
carbon age an age full of possibilities and redemption an age that is not
and redemption an age that is not
and redemption an age that is not defined by fake news or monsters or
defined by fake news or monsters or
defined by fake news or monsters or bullies
bullies
bullies but by the notion of hope from unlikely
but by the notion of hope from unlikely
but by the notion of hope from unlikely places and by the promise of
places and by the promise of
places and by the promise of transformation and change for all of us
transformation and change for all of us
transformation and change for all of us thank you so much I look forward to
thank you so much I look forward to
thank you so much I look forward to seeing you there
”
Be First to Comment