Darryl Boyd, Research Chemist, US Naval Research Laboratory and Co-Founder and Senior Scientist for Science Made Simple
Slime, Polymers & The Future of Polymer Education
Fri, 11 November, 2022
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Dr. Darryl Boyd, Research Chemist, US Naval Research Laboratory and Co-Founder and Senior Scientist for Science Made Simple
The Department of Chemistry Presents, via Online and In-person Presentation: Dr. Darryl Boyd, Research Chemist, US Naval Research Laboratory
In 1907, the 1st synthetic polymer, Bakelite, was invented by Leo Baekeland. Since that time, synthetic polymers have become ubiquitous in the daily lives of billions of people around the globe due to their wide-ranging properties and utility. In recent years, the environmental and biological dangers of certain polymers have been increasingly made known to both the scientific community and the general public. This includes polymer components used to make recreational slime. Despite the awareness of these dangers, the common slime demonstration has remained a staple for those seeking to introduce polymers in educational settings. This talk presents the current state of environmental polymer contamination, and proposes alternate ways in which polymers can be introduced into STEM education.
BIO
Dr. Darryl Boyd is a Research Chemist at the US Naval Research Laboratory where his primary research focuses on the development of novel sulfur-based polymers that have unique optical properties, including unprecedented infrared transmission capabilities. He is also the Co-Founder and Senior Scientist for Science Made Simple LLC, through which he offers his science knowledge to organizations throughout the country via various forums as “Dr. Boyd The Chemist.” This includes his STEM-focused YouTube channel. His honors include winning the 2021 BEYA Admiral Michelle Howard Legacy Award, being named to the Chemical & Engineering News “Talented 12” Class of 2018, and winning NOBCChE’s Lloyd Ferguson Young Scientist Award in 2016. Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Dr. Boyd earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, and both his Master of Science in Biochemistry, and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Purdue University.
Online and In-person