Grant: Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Plastics are ubiquitous in society, with affordances - what society can accomplish with plastics - playing an essential role in supporting water and food security, clothing, the built environment, transportation, health care and computing. However, the growing impacts of plastics from environmental microplastic dispersion and the growing costs associated with hydrocarbon-based production necessitate prompt and effective action. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable populations often bear much of the negative impacts of unmanaged plastic waste. We as a society need to move to the point where the affordances of plastics can be realized with minimal environmental and societal impact. The CREATE Program for PLastic Affordance through Science and Technology Innovation for Circular Solutions (PLASTICS) will: (1) Develop research and training programs to instill HQP with cutting edge technical skills for the clean (bio)tech workforce. We will train 78 HQP, with 40 funded by CREATE. (2) Instill HQP with a strong foundation in translational science, systems leadership, business, and societal use, (3) Develop trainee professional skills through internships and collaborative projects with future employers, (4) Ladder into the award-winning Mitacs/Simon Fraser University Invention to Innovation (i2I) program and feed into university-anchored innovation ecosystems PLASTICS brings together an interdisciplinary, international team that excels in research translation, teaching excellence and research impact. This is complemented by a wide range of stakeholders (industry and municipal government) representing sectors that are effected by evolving policies and innovations around plastic recycling. Our stakeholders will guide PLASTICS and provide internships and experiential opportunities to HQP, preparing them for high-quality jobs in the growing cleantech and environmental sectors.