Role of Chemicals and Plastics in Quality of Life and Environmental Stewardship: A Look Back over the Past 150 Years

This presentation will look back over the past 150 years of the chemical industry to examine impacts on quality of life, from synthetic nitrogen to address population growth and food supply, to the plastics revolution to address cost reduction and light-weighting of materials to reduce carbon footprints and improve user functionality, and chemicals, catalyst, and materials roles in addressing clean air and water as well as opportunities in future energy. Chemistry and chemicals are key to addressing future energy and enviromental issues.