Dr Kevin O'Connor, senior lecturer in the school of biomolecular and biomedical science and a researcher at UCD Earth Institute
Siliconrepublic.com caught up with Dr Kevin O’Connor of the UCD Earth Institute in Dublin to find out about the work they do and their hosting of the film Trashed for Earth Day recently.
The UCD Earth Institute has for the last number of years been one of the leading research and education groups in Ireland with regard to looking at the ways we as a species impact on the planet in terms of the waste we produce, the energy we use and how we can reverse the damage we have already done.
Dr Kevin O’Connor is one of the leading members of the UCD Earth Institute and a senior lecturer in the school of biomolecular and biomedical science. He was involved in the institute’s screening of the environmental awareness film Trashed that highlighted some of the worst examples of man-made landfills that have destroyed entire ecosystems.
The screening on 22 April at The Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin coincided with Earth Day, which encourages everyone to become more environmentally conscious and to ask questions as to how we can prevent ecological disaster.
O’Connor said the reaction from the screening has been great.
“It was a huge success because of the public engagement and really what we’re trying to do is create a positive message about what we can do, rather than the negative message of how bad things are,” he said.
As one of the original founders of a spin-out company called Bioplastech, O’Connor and his team have developed a technology that uses a combination of chemistry to break down plastic bottles and bacteria to convert the breakdown product to a biodegradable plastic.
The UCD Earth Institute’s Dr Kevin O’Connor on our environmental future
UCD Earth Institute is a sponsor of our Clean Tech channel on Silicon Republic.
