[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Plastics run in my blood in the 1960s in
Plastics run in my blood in the 1960s in
Plastics run in my blood in the 1960s in the decade before I was born when my
the decade before I was born when my
the decade before I was born when my father was half the age that I am now
father was half the age that I am now
father was half the age that I am now he made plastics for the Union Carbide
he made plastics for the Union Carbide
he made plastics for the Union Carbide and he made it here at this factory
and he made it here at this factory
and he made it here at this factory which was set out along the Raritan
which was set out along the Raritan
which was set out along the Raritan River in central New Jersey its waters
River in central New Jersey its waters
River in central New Jersey its waters flowed east towards the waters outside
flowed east towards the waters outside
flowed east towards the waters outside New York City now this wasn’t just any
New York City now this wasn’t just any
New York City now this wasn’t just any factory this was the flagship factory
factory this was the flagship factory
factory this was the flagship factory for the production of bakelite bakelite
for the production of bakelite bakelite
for the production of bakelite bakelite being not the first plastic but the
being not the first plastic but the
being not the first plastic but the first synthetic plastic the first
first synthetic plastic the first
first synthetic plastic the first plastic made from the derivatives of
plastic made from the derivatives of
plastic made from the derivatives of fossil fuels bakelite was invented in
fossil fuels bakelite was invented in
fossil fuels bakelite was invented in 1907 by the chemist leo baekeland in a
1907 by the chemist leo baekeland in a
1907 by the chemist leo baekeland in a backyard laboratory in Yonkers New York
backyard laboratory in Yonkers New York
backyard laboratory in Yonkers New York and it was used to make things like car
and it was used to make things like car
and it was used to make things like car accessories and telephones and radio
accessories and telephones and radio
accessories and telephones and radio casings but in 1940 when my dad was born
casings but in 1940 when my dad was born
casings but in 1940 when my dad was born plastics was hardly even a household
plastics was hardly even a household
plastics was hardly even a household name you could even say he grew up
name you could even say he grew up
name you could even say he grew up alongside plastics
alongside plastics
alongside plastics World War two had started and that was
World War two had started and that was
World War two had started and that was an engine for research and development
an engine for research and development
an engine for research and development so many new materials came online during
so many new materials came online during
so many new materials came online during the war and it set the stage for
the war and it set the stage for
the war and it set the stage for plastics production to leap at the war’s
plastics production to leap at the war’s
plastics production to leap at the war’s end now my father went into chemical
end now my father went into chemical
end now my father went into chemical engineering studying in the late 1950s
engineering studying in the late 1950s
engineering studying in the late 1950s early 60s and though he would go on to
early 60s and though he would go on to
early 60s and though he would go on to become a plastics maker he could not
become a plastics maker he could not
become a plastics maker he could not take a course in plastics plastics was
take a course in plastics plastics was
take a course in plastics plastics was still too new and so he had to learn
still too new and so he had to learn
still too new and so he had to learn that on the job he started working in
that on the job he started working in
that on the job he started working in the polystyrene division at that Factory
the polystyrene division at that Factory
the polystyrene division at that Factory in 1962 so he had a a buzz cut a new
in 1962 so he had a a buzz cut a new
in 1962 so he had a a buzz cut a new crop of ties the twist was on the radio
crop of ties the twist was on the radio
crop of ties the twist was on the radio Rachel Carson had just published Silent
Rachel Carson had just published Silent
Rachel Carson had just published Silent Spring soon
Spring soon
Spring soon Martin Luther King would deliver his I
Martin Luther King would deliver his I
Martin Luther King would deliver his I had a dream speech and Kennedy would be
had a dream speech and Kennedy would be
had a dream speech and Kennedy would be shot and Union Carbide his factory would
shot and Union Carbide his factory would
shot and Union Carbide his factory would celebrate on the pages of the New York
celebrate on the pages of the New York
celebrate on the pages of the New York Times being the first company ever to
Times being the first company ever to
Times being the first company ever to produce a billion pounds of plastic in a
produce a billion pounds of plastic in a
produce a billion pounds of plastic in a single year by 1966 he was in charge of
single year by 1966 he was in charge of
single year by 1966 he was in charge of the polystyrene division he was still in
the polystyrene division he was still in
the polystyrene division he was still in his 20s and was in charge of a unit that
his 20s and was in charge of a unit that
his 20s and was in charge of a unit that could put out 8,000 pounds of
could put out 8,000 pounds of
could put out 8,000 pounds of polystyrene Palpa pellets an hour 24
polystyrene Palpa pellets an hour 24
polystyrene Palpa pellets an hour 24 hours a day seven days a week
hours a day seven days a week
hours a day seven days a week most days of the year he gave me this
most days of the year he gave me this
most days of the year he gave me this tally sheet where he had calculated the
tally sheet where he had calculated the
tally sheet where he had calculated the cost of a single pound of polystyrene in
cost of a single pound of polystyrene in
cost of a single pound of polystyrene in the 60s it cost the company twelve cents
the 60s it cost the company twelve cents
the 60s it cost the company twelve cents to make a single pound of polystyrene
to make a single pound of polystyrene
to make a single pound of polystyrene which is important because this was the
which is important because this was the
which is important because this was the era of mass plastics and the era in
era of mass plastics and the era in
era of mass plastics and the era in which it became conceivable for a
which it became conceivable for a
which it became conceivable for a manufacturer good to be disposed of so
manufacturer good to be disposed of so
manufacturer good to be disposed of so when he first started out he was making
when he first started out he was making
when he first started out he was making polystyrene for things like refrigerator
polystyrene for things like refrigerator
polystyrene for things like refrigerator liners but by the later end of the 60s
liners but by the later end of the 60s
liners but by the later end of the 60s he was making polystyrene that would go
he was making polystyrene that would go
he was making polystyrene that would go into food packaging that had a
into food packaging that had a
into food packaging that had a functional lace of like a week and
functional lace of like a week and
functional lace of like a week and coffee lids which had a functional life
coffee lids which had a functional life
coffee lids which had a functional life of a hot cup of coffee
of a hot cup of coffee
of a hot cup of coffee he ended up transferring laterally into
he ended up transferring laterally into
he ended up transferring laterally into the bakelite division and then he left
the bakelite division and then he left
the bakelite division and then he left plastics altogether right at the time
plastics altogether right at the time
plastics altogether right at the time plastics production was taking off and
plastics production was taking off and
plastics production was taking off and when I asked him why did you leave he
when I asked him why did you leave he
when I asked him why did you leave he said there had to be a higher calling
said there had to be a higher calling
said there had to be a higher calling than this 50 years after he started
than this 50 years after he started
than this 50 years after he started making plastics when he was in his 70s I
making plastics when he was in his 70s I
making plastics when he was in his 70s I said to him dad will you take me back to
said to him dad will you take me back to
said to him dad will you take me back to this Factory he was healthy I had a
this Factory he was healthy I had a
this Factory he was healthy I had a chance to go and I was an environmental
chance to go and I was an environmental
chance to go and I was an environmental sociologist I study the intersection of
sociologist I study the intersection of
sociologist I study the intersection of biography and environmental history how
biography and environmental history how
biography and environmental history how is it that I had never studied plastics
is it that I had never studied plastics
is it that I had never studied plastics before so so he took me and we drove
before so so he took me and we drove
before so so he took me and we drove from New England to New Jersey and we
from New England to New Jersey and we
from New England to New Jersey and we knew the factory had been shuttered and
knew the factory had been shuttered and
knew the factory had been shuttered and we knew it was being demolished but we
we knew it was being demolished but we
we knew it was being demolished but we didn’t realize it was going to it was
didn’t realize it was going to it was
didn’t realize it was going to it was gone and when we turned the corner he
gone and when we turned the corner he
gone and when we turned the corner he gasped at the sight of the ghost of this
gasped at the sight of the ghost of this
gasped at the sight of the ghost of this actory we drive around the perimeter
actory we drive around the perimeter
actory we drive around the perimeter down baekeland Avenue when we pull up to
down baekeland Avenue when we pull up to
down baekeland Avenue when we pull up to the back pad locked gates and I lean out
the back pad locked gates and I lean out
the back pad locked gates and I lean out the car window and I shoot this picture
the car window and I shoot this picture
the car window and I shoot this picture and my dad starts talking about this
and my dad starts talking about this
and my dad starts talking about this place as if it was a living entity and
place as if it was a living entity and
place as if it was a living entity and these rail lines as if they were
these rail lines as if they were
these rail lines as if they were arteries feeding this plant in goes the
arteries feeding this plant in goes the
arteries feeding this plant in goes the styrene out goes of polystyrene and I
styrene out goes of polystyrene and I
styrene out goes of polystyrene and I began to think of plastics not so much
began to think of plastics not so much
began to think of plastics not so much as a material but as a network in which
as a material but as a network in which
as a material but as a network in which we are enmeshed and of course plastics
we are enmeshed and of course plastics
we are enmeshed and of course plastics was not the only thing this plant made
was not the only thing this plant made
was not the only thing this plant made for any linear production process as
for any linear production process as
for any linear production process as much plastic as is made you can expect
much plastic as is made you can expect
much plastic as is made you can expect there’s a fair amount of byproducts and
there’s a fair amount of byproducts and
there’s a fair amount of byproducts and waste product and these would be packed
waste product and these would be packed
waste product and these would be packed into 55-gallon drums and drums loaded
into 55-gallon drums and drums loaded
into 55-gallon drums and drums loaded onto the back of unmarked trucks and
onto the back of unmarked trucks and
onto the back of unmarked trucks and these two would roll out of these same
these two would roll out of these same
these two would roll out of these same gates over these same rails two
gates over these same rails two
gates over these same rails two destinations unknown and my dad said to
destinations unknown and my dad said to
destinations unknown and my dad said to me I used to wonder where it was all
me I used to wonder where it was all
me I used to wonder where it was all going when I was in grade school there
going when I was in grade school there
going when I was in grade school there were headlines from a town about an hour
were headlines from a town about an hour
were headlines from a town about an hour south of here that about 5,000 drums
south of here that about 5,000 drums
south of here that about 5,000 drums that had been produced in the 70s after
that had been produced in the 70s after
that had been produced in the 70s after he left had been found buried in the
he left had been found buried in the
he left had been found buried in the back of an egg farm the farmers had
back of an egg farm the farmers had
back of an egg farm the farmers had leased the land not knowing to what
leased the land not knowing to what
leased the land not knowing to what purpose it would be put and the contents
purpose it would be put and the contents
purpose it would be put and the contents of those drums had leached into the
of those drums had leached into the
of those drums had leached into the ground and gotten into the drinking
ground and gotten into the drinking
ground and gotten into the drinking water and there were kids who were sick
water and there were kids who were sick
water and there were kids who were sick and there were parents who were worried
and there were parents who were worried
and there were parents who were worried sick
sick
sick and there were scientists trying to
and there were scientists trying to
and there were scientists trying to figure out the pattern but of course
figure out the pattern but of course
figure out the pattern but of course that’s very complicated science because
that’s very complicated science because
that’s very complicated science because there was another Factory and it too had
there was another Factory and it too had
there was another Factory and it too had contaminated the water and it was almost
contaminated the water and it was almost
contaminated the water and it was almost too much to parse my father and I left
too much to parse my father and I left
too much to parse my father and I left the factory and we drove around this
the factory and we drove around this
the factory and we drove around this other dye factory that had contributed
other dye factory that had contributed
other dye factory that had contributed to this contamination and we drove to
to this contamination and we drove to
to this contamination and we drove to that old farm where the being and
that old farm where the being and
that old farm where the being and carbide wastes had wound up it was a
carbide wastes had wound up it was a
carbide wastes had wound up it was a place you could buy a fence or a used
place you could buy a fence or a used
place you could buy a fence or a used car but was otherwise unmarked in terms
car but was otherwise unmarked in terms
car but was otherwise unmarked in terms of what had happened there and how it
of what had happened there and how it
of what had happened there and how it had marked that lives of the people had
had marked that lives of the people had
had marked that lives of the people had lived there and then we drove on to the
lived there and then we drove on to the
lived there and then we drove on to the sea when my father left Union Carbide he
sea when my father left Union Carbide he
sea when my father left Union Carbide he went back to night school he studied
went back to night school he studied
went back to night school he studied public administration
public administration
public administration then he went on to be hired to manage a
then he went on to be hired to manage a
then he went on to be hired to manage a small town in North Jersey and there he
small town in North Jersey and there he
small town in North Jersey and there he founded recycling programs and this was
founded recycling programs and this was
founded recycling programs and this was the man I grew up with the guy who would
the man I grew up with the guy who would
the man I grew up with the guy who would pull over the car pick up roadside
pull over the car pick up roadside
pull over the car pick up roadside litter toss it into the back of his car
litter toss it into the back of his car
litter toss it into the back of his car there was forever recyclables rummaging
there was forever recyclables rummaging
there was forever recyclables rummaging around in the back of his car
around in the back of his car
around in the back of his car awaiting redemption but recycling wasn’t
awaiting redemption but recycling wasn’t
awaiting redemption but recycling wasn’t quite the savior any one of us hoped it
quite the savior any one of us hoped it
quite the savior any one of us hoped it would be if he hoped it would be because
would be if he hoped it would be because
would be if he hoped it would be because most of the plastic ever made is still
most of the plastic ever made is still
most of the plastic ever made is still with us and in fact is in the open
with us and in fact is in the open
with us and in fact is in the open environment most of it heads towards
environment most of it heads towards
environment most of it heads towards water and their plastic doesn’t break
water and their plastic doesn’t break
water and their plastic doesn’t break down into its constituent parts it just
down into its constituent parts it just
down into its constituent parts it just breaks down into ever smaller parts and
breaks down into ever smaller parts and
breaks down into ever smaller parts and the smaller and smaller the pieces the
the smaller and smaller the pieces the
the smaller and smaller the pieces the greater the surface area to absorb other
greater the surface area to absorb other
greater the surface area to absorb other categories of marine pollutants which
categories of marine pollutants which
categories of marine pollutants which turns out many of them were industrial
turns out many of them were industrial
turns out many of them were industrial chemicals used to modify the performance
chemicals used to modify the performance
chemicals used to modify the performance of plastics they leached off and then
of plastics they leached off and then
of plastics they leached off and then reunited in the ocean the plastic
reunited in the ocean the plastic
reunited in the ocean the plastic attracted them like a magnet attracts
attracted them like a magnet attracts
attracted them like a magnet attracts metal and there they begin their
metal and there they begin their
metal and there they begin their movement through the food web here is a
movement through the food web here is a
movement through the food web here is a picture of a plankton filter feeding
picture of a plankton filter feeding
picture of a plankton filter feeding polystyrene from there it fans across
polystyrene from there it fans across
polystyrene from there it fans across the web the food web eventually
the web the food web eventually
the web the food web eventually returning to us becoming us and the
returning to us becoming us and the
returning to us becoming us and the biological and evolutionary consequences
biological and evolutionary consequences
biological and evolutionary consequences of this are just coming into view this
of this are just coming into view this
of this are just coming into view this past summer a bunch of researchers tried
past summer a bunch of researchers tried
past summer a bunch of researchers tried to get a handle on how much plastic is
to get a handle on how much plastic is
to get a handle on how much plastic is in the ocean and so they did a global
in the ocean and so they did a global
in the ocean and so they did a global accounting of plastics they said since
accounting of plastics they said since
accounting of plastics they said since the 1950s global plastics endured
the 1950s global plastics endured
the 1950s global plastics endured industry has produced eight point three
industry has produced eight point three
industry has produced eight point three billion metric tons of plastic and then
billion metric tons of plastic and then
billion metric tons of plastic and then they engage in a series of thought
they engage in a series of thought
they engage in a series of thought experiments to put this into the human
experiments to put this into the human
experiments to put this into the human context that’s as much as plastic as
context that’s as much as plastic as
context that’s as much as plastic as could berry New York City two miles deep
could berry New York City two miles deep
could berry New York City two miles deep but we know that plastics plants produce
but we know that plastics plants produce
but we know that plastics plants produce more than just plastics and so there’s a
more than just plastics and so there’s a
more than just plastics and so there’s a fuller accounting that must be made what
fuller accounting that must be made what
fuller accounting that must be made what happens to everything else and who lives
happens to everything else and who lives
happens to everything else and who lives among it and so mapping becomes the
among it and so mapping becomes the
among it and so mapping becomes the corollary to measuring but what about a
corollary to measuring but what about a
corollary to measuring but what about a place like Toms River New Jersey it
place like Toms River New Jersey it
place like Toms River New Jersey it wouldn’t be on any map of a plastics
wouldn’t be on any map of a plastics
wouldn’t be on any map of a plastics facility their plastics waste had been
facility their plastics waste had been
facility their plastics waste had been secret away
there’s one more place I want to tell
there’s one more place I want to tell you about where my dad and I went and
you about where my dad and I went and
you about where my dad and I went and this was on the outskirts of Toms River
this was on the outskirts of Toms River
this was on the outskirts of Toms River now this area the the fall before my dad
now this area the the fall before my dad
now this area the the fall before my dad and I took this trip had been ravaged by
and I took this trip had been ravaged by
and I took this trip had been ravaged by Hurricane sandy and so there was this
Hurricane sandy and so there was this
Hurricane sandy and so there was this out-of-the-way Park where there was a
out-of-the-way Park where there was a
out-of-the-way Park where there was a cancer Memorial a memorial for all of
cancer Memorial a memorial for all of
cancer Memorial a memorial for all of the children of Toms River who had died
the children of Toms River who had died
the children of Toms River who had died the park was overgrown the dental office
the park was overgrown the dental office
the park was overgrown the dental office next door had long been boarded up the
next door had long been boarded up the
next door had long been boarded up the weeds were up to our knees practically
weeds were up to our knees practically
weeds were up to our knees practically there was literary where but there was
there was literary where but there was
there was literary where but there was this memorial I started reading the
this memorial I started reading the
this memorial I started reading the names of the children who had died
names of the children who had died
names of the children who had died realized the font had changed halfway
realized the font had changed halfway
realized the font had changed halfway through had more children died after the
through had more children died after the
through had more children died after the first had been memorialized my my dad
first had been memorialized my my dad
first had been memorialized my my dad approaches my memorial
approaches my memorial
approaches my memorial if I know him he is praying and in one
if I know him he is praying and in one
if I know him he is praying and in one of the strangest coincidences of my life
of the strangest coincidences of my life
of the strangest coincidences of my life the wind blows up off the Toms River the
the wind blows up off the Toms River the
the wind blows up off the Toms River the litter is rattling around our feet and –
litter is rattling around our feet and –
litter is rattling around our feet and – it delivers to my feet a spent coffee
it delivers to my feet a spent coffee
it delivers to my feet a spent coffee cup and I pick it up and I look at the
cup and I pick it up and I look at the
cup and I pick it up and I look at the lid and there are those three iconic
lid and there are those three iconic
lid and there are those three iconic arrows chasing each other the recycling
arrows chasing each other the recycling
arrows chasing each other the recycling symbol and it is stamped with the
symbol and it is stamped with the
symbol and it is stamped with the letters PS which tells me that the lid
letters PS which tells me that the lid
letters PS which tells me that the lid of the cup that the cancer memorial was
of the cup that the cancer memorial was
of the cup that the cancer memorial was made from polystyrene so what began as a
made from polystyrene so what began as a
made from polystyrene so what began as a road trip father/daughter road trip
road trip father/daughter road trip
road trip father/daughter road trip became I don’t know a pilgrimage a
became I don’t know a pilgrimage a
became I don’t know a pilgrimage a reckoning a gift where my father had
reckoning a gift where my father had
reckoning a gift where my father had said to me here these are my
said to me here these are my
said to me here these are my remembrances my truth make of them what
remembrances my truth make of them what
remembrances my truth make of them what you will make something with them will
you will make something with them will
you will make something with them will you seed the change that needs to come
you seed the change that needs to come
you seed the change that needs to come find a way to leave some alternate
find a way to leave some alternate
find a way to leave some alternate legacy to go along with all of this
legacy to go along with all of this
legacy to go along with all of this indelible plastic and I thought how do
indelible plastic and I thought how do
indelible plastic and I thought how do you hold an inheritance like this is
you hold an inheritance like this is
you hold an inheritance like this is there anything more complicated or
there anything more complicated or
there anything more complicated or complex than plastics we’re past the
complex than plastics we’re past the
complex than plastics we’re past the point of easy answers and simple
point of easy answers and simple
point of easy answers and simple dichotomy is of good
dichotomy is of good
dichotomy is of good and bad and innocent and complicit and
and bad and innocent and complicit and
and bad and innocent and complicit and life-saving like humanitarian relief and
life-saving like humanitarian relief and
life-saving like humanitarian relief and medical supplies and life altering oh I
medical supplies and life altering oh I
medical supplies and life altering oh I came home brimming with questions like
came home brimming with questions like
came home brimming with questions like how is it an industrial plant got to
how is it an industrial plant got to
how is it an industrial plant got to share a name with a botanical one those
share a name with a botanical one those
share a name with a botanical one those great green generous creatures that
great green generous creatures that
great green generous creatures that supply us with oxygen our life-support
supply us with oxygen our life-support
supply us with oxygen our life-support system and so determined to figure this
system and so determined to figure this
system and so determined to figure this out I go to the library and I consult
out I go to the library and I consult
out I go to the library and I consult the Oxford English Dictionary you know
the Oxford English Dictionary you know
the Oxford English Dictionary you know that dictionary that spans a whole shelf
that dictionary that spans a whole shelf
that dictionary that spans a whole shelf and I pull out the P volume and I go to
and I pull out the P volume and I go to
and I pull out the P volume and I go to look up the word plant because I want to
look up the word plant because I want to
look up the word plant because I want to understand where this word came from and
understand where this word came from and
understand where this word came from and I overshoot and I land on plastics and
I overshoot and I land on plastics and
I overshoot and I land on plastics and there I realized the definition of
there I realized the definition of
there I realized the definition of plastics goes on for pages which means
plastics goes on for pages which means
plastics goes on for pages which means this word this concept predates the
this word this concept predates the
this word this concept predates the material there’s so much richness there
material there’s so much richness there
material there’s so much richness there and I’m reminded of the word plasticity
and I’m reminded of the word plasticity
and I’m reminded of the word plasticity this idea from neurology or psychology
this idea from neurology or psychology
this idea from neurology or psychology that the mind is wonderfully adaptive
that the mind is wonderfully adaptive
that the mind is wonderfully adaptive that it’s capable capable of change or
that it’s capable capable of change or
that it’s capable capable of change or in botany or biology plasticity is the
in botany or biology plasticity is the
in botany or biology plasticity is the concept that a species can rapidly
concept that a species can rapidly
concept that a species can rapidly evolve in response to changing
evolve in response to changing
evolve in response to changing environmental conditions plasticity as a
environmental conditions plasticity as a
environmental conditions plasticity as a mechanism of survival and it dawned on
mechanism of survival and it dawned on
mechanism of survival and it dawned on me at this time we’re making more
me at this time we’re making more
me at this time we’re making more plastics than ever at this time we’re
plastics than ever at this time we’re
plastics than ever at this time we’re more aware at this time plastics we are
more aware at this time plastics we are
more aware at this time plastics we are more plastic we must become more plastic
more plastic we must become more plastic
more plastic we must become more plastic more willing to adapt as changing
more willing to adapt as changing
more willing to adapt as changing environmental conditions process this
environmental conditions process this
environmental conditions process this kind of work is going on all around us
kind of work is going on all around us
kind of work is going on all around us this plasticity of this willingness to
this plasticity of this willingness to
this plasticity of this willingness to think outside of the box to think
think outside of the box to think
think outside of the box to think creatively there are cities in the
creatively there are cities in the
creatively there are cities in the United States where you can order a
United States where you can order a
United States where you can order a glass of water and it comes with a straw
glass of water and it comes with a straw
glass of water and it comes with a straw whether you ask for it or not and then
whether you ask for it or not and then
whether you ask for it or not and then there are cities that are rethinking
there are cities that are rethinking
there are cities that are rethinking whether this is a critical use of
whether this is a critical use of
whether this is a critical use of plastic the changes are happening on
plastic the changes are happening on
plastic the changes are happening on every level from the individual all the
every level from the individual all the
every level from the individual all the way up to the institutional and then
way up to the institutional and then
way up to the institutional and then that middle sweet spot for change where
that middle sweet spot for change where
that middle sweet spot for change where ideas
ideas
ideas and institutions live but there is a
and institutions live but there is a
and institutions live but there is a fair amount of resistance there’s a fair
fair amount of resistance there’s a fair
fair amount of resistance there’s a fair amount of rigidity in the systems by
amount of rigidity in the systems by
amount of rigidity in the systems by which we produce consume discard manage
which we produce consume discard manage
which we produce consume discard manage plastics think about that rigidity and
plastics think about that rigidity and
plastics think about that rigidity and the systems by which we make one of the
the systems by which we make one of the
the systems by which we make one of the most flexible materials humans can make
most flexible materials humans can make
most flexible materials humans can make and why is that rigidity automaticity
and why is that rigidity automaticity
and why is that rigidity automaticity unquestioning history would suggest this
unquestioning history would suggest this
unquestioning history would suggest this makes no sense
makes no sense
makes no sense let’s think about this generationally so
let’s think about this generationally so
let’s think about this generationally so a human generation is about 25 to 30
a human generation is about 25 to 30
a human generation is about 25 to 30 years so let’s map this there’s my dad’s
years so let’s map this there’s my dad’s
years so let’s map this there’s my dad’s birth year I come along it’s a child of
birth year I come along it’s a child of
birth year I come along it’s a child of the 70s I bear children in the 2010 and
the 70s I bear children in the 2010 and
the 70s I bear children in the 2010 and let’s throw the year baekeland put
let’s throw the year baekeland put
let’s throw the year baekeland put bakelite into mass production 1910
bakelite into mass production 1910
bakelite into mass production 1910 that’s it four generations
that’s it four generations
that’s it four generations we’re four generations in and in that
we’re four generations in and in that
we’re four generations in and in that time plastic has changed again and again
time plastic has changed again and again
time plastic has changed again and again it is the molecular basis of plastics
it is the molecular basis of plastics
it is the molecular basis of plastics has changed the material uses of
has changed the material uses of
has changed the material uses of plastics has changed and even the
plastics has changed and even the
plastics has changed and even the cultural meaning of plastics has changed
cultural meaning of plastics has changed
cultural meaning of plastics has changed which is to suggest where where does
which is to suggest where where does
which is to suggest where where does such rigidity such automaticity come
such rigidity such automaticity come
such rigidity such automaticity come such unthinking this come especially
such unthinking this come especially
such unthinking this come especially with regards to the use of disposable
with regards to the use of disposable
with regards to the use of disposable plastics as for me I’m not sure where
plastics as for me I’m not sure where
plastics as for me I’m not sure where this whole journey is leading me other
this whole journey is leading me other
this whole journey is leading me other than to say it has changed my career and
than to say it has changed my career and
than to say it has changed my career and I never ever imagined I’d have the
I never ever imagined I’d have the
I never ever imagined I’d have the privilege of sharing this stage with all
privilege of sharing this stage with all
privilege of sharing this stage with all of you today I do know that plastics
of you today I do know that plastics
of you today I do know that plastics production is set to increase and that
production is set to increase and that
production is set to increase and that by the time my children are my age
by the time my children are my age
by the time my children are my age hopefully barring my grandchildren
hopefully barring my grandchildren
hopefully barring my grandchildren global production is going to exceed
global production is going to exceed
global production is going to exceed something like 34 billion metric tons of
something like 34 billion metric tons of
something like 34 billion metric tons of plastic and so how do we be this pause
plastic and so how do we be this pause
plastic and so how do we be this pause generation that that straddles 20th
generation that that straddles 20th
generation that that straddles 20th century technology and way of doing
century technology and way of doing
century technology and way of doing things with 21st century legacy 21st
things with 21st century legacy 21st
things with 21st century legacy 21st century smarts so that we can tip the
century smarts so that we can tip the
century smarts so that we can tip the bow
bow
bow towards light thank you very much for
towards light thank you very much for
towards light thank you very much for your time
your time
your time [Applause]
”
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