You might know more about solid state chemistry than you think! Whilst you’re cooking with your favourite pots and pans, scrolling on your phone or driving to work, chemical reactions are occurring between all of your essential everyday items. We speak with Dr Anna Regoutz, lecturer at University College London, to understand more about the unique properties and chemical bonds of the materials around us, and how chemistry can contribute to making these materials more sustainable.

Intro [00:00]

Meet the Hosts [01:52]

Materials Background [03:13]

Meet the Guests [05:07]

Interview [08:08]

The Breakdown [29:54]

Expert Test [31:17]

Conclusion [36:01]

Dr Anna Regoutz

Dr Anna Regoutz is a Lecturer in Materials Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at University College London (UCL) and a Visiting Scientist at Diamond Light Source. Anna was awarded a D.Phil. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Oxford in 2014 and spent her post-doctoral years at the University of Southampton and Imperial College. She became a Research Fellow at the latter before joining UCL in 2019.

Anna’s research focuses on bulk, thin film, and nanomaterials for application in devices, including power electronics, photovoltaics, and biosensors. A significant focus of her work is the development of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy methods for bulk materials, surfaces, and interfaces. This includes using and developing both laboratory- and synchrotron-based spectroscopic methods to study, in particular, the electronic structure of device-relevant bulk materials and material heterostructures.

Anna received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Joseph Black Award in 2020 and the element Praseodymium in the Periodic Table of Chemists by IUPAC in 2019. She has been featured in the Merck Next Great Impossible Campaign and the Leading Light series of Diamond Light Source. She is a Specialty Chief Editor in the Chemistry section of Frontiers for Young Minds, an open-access scientific journal written by scientists and reviewed by children.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Guest: Dr Anna Regoutz

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest student: Nitola Islam

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

The Salters’ Institute

From skincare to makeup, we can’t live without the products that make us look better and feel better about ourselves. As humans, we’ve been obsessed with cosmetics for thousands of years. But what does it really mean to put these personal care products on our skin, the largest organ of our bodies? How can chemistry contribute to responsible, sustainable, and body-friendly cosmetics? We speak with entrepreneur, Laura Rudoe, founder of Good Ventures and Evolve Beauty, about the modern ethics of cosmetics and how chemistry is changing the beauty industry.

Intro [00:00]

About the episode [01:41]

Background on cosmetics [03:03]

Meet the guests [08:09]

Interview [10:10]

The Breakdown [38:11]

Expert Test [39:47]

Conclusion [42:44]

Laura Rudoe

Laura Rudoe has dedicated her adult life to discovering natural ways to help people find balance and beauty in their skin. In her late teens, Laura experienced skin issues which she solved by turning to a more natural way of living. The result evoked a passion for creating effective products that complement an organic and natural lifestyle while also being better for both skin and the planet. In 2009, Laura Rudoe founded Evolve Organic Beauty with a mission to make products that deliver effective results and are healthier, greener and kinder for people and the planet, making it easier for everyone to live better. Laura is a passionate advocate of ethical and environmentally friendly business as well as natural and sustainable living. Her deep appreciation for nature is at the heart of everything she does. ​​Evolve Organic Beauty is the UK’s leading ethical, sustainable and certified organic beauty brand and one of the first 1000 certified B Corporations in the UK. Recognised for her entrepreneurship, Laura has been honoured with several awards including Management Today 35 under 35, the Green Mumpreneur of the Year, one of Natural Beauty Yearbook Top Personalities and LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Leaders of 2023.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Guest: Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest student: Nitola Islam

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

The Salters’ Institute

Good Ventures

Whether you’re a sweet or savoury kind of person, or prefer something in between, we all have difference preferences when it comes to taste and smell. For example, why is it that some of us can’t get enough of the smell of petrol, but others despise it? We know that there are five basic tastes, but what’s the link between smell and taste? What makes different smells unique? This week we speak to Professor Jane Parker, researcher at the University of Reading, about flavours, aromas and the chemicals that cause them.

Intro [00:00]

Meet the hosts [01:58]

Chemistry of flavours background [03:20]

About the episode [06:31]

Meet the guests [07:55]

Interview [11:30]

The Breakdown: [37:21]

The Expert Test [39:04]

Conclusion [41:45]

Professor Jane Parker

Jane is Professor of Flavour Chemistry in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading, the Food Research Group Lead and founder of the Flavour Centre which provides consultancy, training and technical service to industry (>100 food companies). She has more than 20 years’ experience in flavour chemistry, and analysis of flavours, off-notes and precursors, with a particular interest in flavour formation pathways (Maillard and lipid derived) and how aroma compounds interact i) with each other, ii) with other sensory modalities and iii) with the other components of the food matrix. Jane’s current projects include designing flavour into plant-based meat analogues, extending the shelf-life of millet and a project which involves the study of sweet preference spanning 62labs worldwide. In conjunction withpartners in the US, she has recently published a “Principal Odour Map” of aromachemicals generated by machine learning, which predicts the aroma profile ofunknown molecules. Jane is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and chair of the RSC food Group, recipient of the British Society of Flavourists BillLittlejohn Medal for contribution to the art and science of flavour, andrepresents the UK on the EuroFoodChem committee.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest: Professor Jane Parker

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

The Salters’ Institute

University of Reading Flavour Centre

Recycling has become part of the daily routine for many of us, but are the processes in place as effective as they could be? Many of the items we consider recyclable can be difficult to recycle where we live. How do we make recycling the foundation of manufacturing? Or should the focus be on the material chemists to create more sustainable materials? We speak with Professor Veena Sahajwalla, scientist at the University of New South Wales, Australia, to discuss a future where recycling anything is possible, and how chemistry is crucial in helping us get there.

Intro [00:00]

Meet the hosts [02:54]

Recycling background [04:29]

About the episode [06:54]

Meet the guests [07:38]

Interview [08:28]

The Breakdown [35:38]

The Expert Test [37:48]

Conclusion [40:59]

Professor Veena Sahajwalla

Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer, and inventor revolutionising recycling science. She is renowned for pioneering the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials’ at the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, in Australia, where she is Founding Director. Professor Veena is the inventor of polymer injection technology, known as green steel, an eco-friendly process for using recycled tyres in steel production. In 2018, she launched the world's first e-waste MICROfactorieTM and in 2019 she launched her plastics and Green Ceramics MICROfactoriesTM, a recycling technology breakthrough. Professor Veena is the director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘microrecycling’, and is the Leader of the national Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub. In 2021, she featured in the ABC’s Australian Story and was named the 2022 NSW Australian of the Year in recognition of her work. She was also named the 2022 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes winner for the Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) Clunies Ross Innovation Award. In 2023, Professor Veena was awarded the Engineering Australia Chemical College Chemical Engineer Achievement Award and the Good Design 2023 Women in Design Award.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest: Professor Veena Sahajwalla

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

The Salters’ Institute

UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre

ABC's Australian Story on Professor Veena

Colour is everywhere! From the sky to our feet, and leaves on trees to paint on our walls, we can’t get away from colour. But what is colour and where does it come from? And how do we experience colour? We speak with Professor Stephen Westland of the University of Leeds to explore the chemical structures that create colour, how it affects us, and what we need to know about the future of colour chemistry.

Intro [00:00]

About the episode [01:34]

Background on colour [03:45]

Meet the guests [06:13]

Interview [06:44]

The Breakdown [35:05]

Expert Test [36:49]

Conclusion [40:10]

Professor Stephen Westland

Stephen Westland is Chair of Colour Science and Technology in the School of Design at the University of Leeds. He was awarded a BSc in Colour Chemistry and a PhD in Colour Physics from the University of Leeds. After a short spell working in industry, he held posts in several UK universities before being appointed to the role of Professor at the University of Leeds in 2003. Professor Westland’s research interests include colour measurement, colour design, colour literacy, colour imaging and machine learning. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters and books including Computational Colour Science (2004, 2012) and Universal Principles of Colour (2023). He has supervised over 60 PhD students and holds visiting Professorships at several universities including Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China) and University of East Anglia (UK). He is a Fellow of the Society of Dyers and Colourists and was awarded the Davies Medal (2008) from the Royal Photographic Society for his research in colour imaging. He is currently a member of the Colour Literacy Project and is Programme Manager for a new multi disciplinary postgraduate degree, MSc Colour, at the University of Leeds.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Guest: Professor Stephen Westland

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

The Salters’ Institute

Website of Professor Westland

MSc Colour at the University of Leeds

The dress

From the gadgets in our pockets to the wheels on the road, we need batteries to help the world go round. In this episode we examine the chemistry behind how batteries function, eco-friendly alternatives, and what materials we might need to offer more sustainable options for everyday consumers. We speak with Dr Ieuan Seymour, a researcher at the University of Aberdeen, to discuss how vital batteries for our present and our future. What might we do when we run out of the elements that we need to make batteries? How can we reuse existing materials instead of mining more?

Intro [00:00]

About the episode [01:25]

Batteries background [03:25]

Meet the guests [10:33]

Interview [12:03]

The Breakdown [27:05]

Expert Test [28:23]

Conclusion [32:24]

Dr Ieuan Seymour is lecturer in the Chemistry Department at the University of Aberdeen. His work spans the fields of materials science and chemistry, focusing on innovative solutions for energy storage and generation. His research group uses a combination of high-performance computing and cutting-edge experimental techniques to understand the structure and properties of sustainable energy materials all the way from the atomistic level to device level applications. An important focus of his work is developing new materials with increases sustainability from cradle to grave.

Ieuan completed his Master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering at Imperial College London in 2012. He subsequently completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Dame Clare P. Grey. His PhD focused on the electrochemical performance and degradation mechanisms of next generation manganese-based cathodes for Li-ion batteries. After his PhD, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin and Imperial College London where he explored new materials discovery for high performance, sustainable ‘beyond Li-ion’ and next-generation solid-state batteries. Through mentorship and teaching, Ieuan shares his passion for materials chemistry, inspiring the next generation of researchers to address pressing challenges in sustainability and energy innovation.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Guest: Dr Ieuan Seymour

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne 

The Salters’ Institute

PFAs are extremely resistant ‘forever’ chemicals that have found their way into many of the products we use on a daily basis. Their strong carbon bonds make them difficult to break down, endangering our environment. How can we reverse the damage done by persistent pollutants? Do we have enough time to leverage natural processes to eliminate PFAs before it’s too late? We speak with Professor Andrew Tanentzap, researcher at Trent University and University of Cambridge, about how we can utilise natural microorganisms to break down carbon-based pollutants.

Intro [00:00]

Meet the hosts [02:10]

Forever chemicals background [02:57]

About the episode [03:59]

Meet the guests [05:53]

Interview [06:40]

The Breakdown [19:39]

Expert Test [21:30]

Conclusion [25:35]

Professor Andrew Tanentzap

Professor Andrew Tanentzap is Canada Research Chair in

Climate Change and Northern Ecosystems at Trent University and a Member of the

Royal Society of Canada College. He is also a Bye Fellow at Peterhouse College,

Cambridge and was previously Professor of Global Change Ecology in the

Department of Plant Sciences and Conservation Research Institute at the

University of Cambridge from 2013 to 2023. His research is at the interface of

ecology, evolutionary biology, and biogeochemistry, making fundamental

discoveries in understanding how environmental change impacts both biodiversity

and the benefits people receive from nature, including carbon sequestration,

food production, and safe drinking water.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest: Professor Andrew Tanentzap

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

Professor Tanentzap’s lab, the Ecosystems and Global Change Group

People with mental health challenges were for a very long time completely misunderstood, but science is changing our knowledge of the brain. What causes issues with mental health in young people? How can chemistry contribute to treatments for mental health problems? We speak with Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore leader of a research group at the University of Cambridge, about current research on mental health and the adolescent brain.

Intro [00:00]

Meet the Hosts[01:39]

About Zwittering On [03:38]

Brain Chemistry and Mental Health Background [05:01]

Meet the Guests [06:48]

Interview [07:32]

Summary [32:48]

Expert Test [34:31]

Conclusion [37:01]

Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, and leader of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Group. Her group's research focuses on the development of social cognition and decision making in the human adolescent brain, and adolescent mental health. Her group runs behavioural studies in schools and in the lab, as well as neuroimaging studies, with adolescents and adults.

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest: Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover art: Sam Osbourne

Blakemore Lab

MIND, mental health charity (UK)