Introduction to Plastics Circularity

Dr. Shenghua Wu has over a decade’s teaching and research experience in civil engineering materials and engineering education. His proficiency in teaching courses such as Mechanics of Materials, Civil Engineering Materials and Lab, and Advanced Characterization of Transportation Materials, along with his experience in developing new courses, obtaining ASTM and AASHTO materials laboratory accreditation, and collaborating with construction materials industries, enables him to deliver effective instruction. Dr. Wu serves as the director for the Solid Waste Sustainability Hub, with a focus on promoting education on recycling, repurposing, and reusing waste plastics. Additionally, he directs the Sustainable Asphalt Materials Laboratory and the Gulf Coast Center for Addressing Microplastics Pollution (GC-CAMP), where he leads efforts to understand, mitigate, and prevent microplastics in the Gulf coast area. Dr. Wu's innovative approach to education is evident through his successful integration of team-based learning into civil engineering courses, which has significantly enhanced students' technical writing skills. His excellence in teaching has been recognized with an Excellence in Teaching award from the College of Engineering, and he has garnered national recognition from ASCE in 2020 and the Asphalt Institute in 2022 for his teaching innovations. Dr. Kuang-Ting Hsiao is a professor in Mechanical Engineering with expertise in carbon fiber reinforced polymer, nanofiber technology, and artificial intelligence integration for composite material manufacturing. He has extensive knowledge in streamlined design, planning, sensing, control, and database feedback systems for composite manufacturing, as well as characterization and modeling of polymer matrix composites and sustainable energy technologies. With over a decade of experience teaching mechanical engineering courses, Dr. Hsiao brings a wealth of knowledge to the project. He has served as both PI and Co-PI for research projects funded by institutions like NSF, NASA, DOE, and others. Additionally, Dr. Hsiao is the author of a book on manufacturing techniques for polymer matrix composites and has contributed to several book chapters. He holds five patents related to novel polymer and composite materials manufacturing, characterization, and evaluation.Dr. Alexandra Stenson, a Professor of Chemistry at the University of South Alabama, is an expert in modern analytical chemistry, specializing in the use of chromatography and mass spectrometry for molecular-level characterization of environmentally-relevant samples as well as ATR-FTIR characterization of plastics. Her proficiency in analytical characterization of plastics and mixtures as well as her extensive experience in collaborative research across disciplines makes her an invaluable contributor to the project. Dr. Stenson plays a pivotal role in guiding research and academic activities in the analytical chemistry lab, with 20 years teaching experience. Moreover, she actively promotes innovative course design, student engagement, and hands-on undergraduate research experiences. She received the Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award in 2012 and six “top prof” awards from Mortar Board Senior Honor Society.Dr. Kari Lippert is an assistant professor in System Engineering at the University of South Alabama. With over 30 years of experience in systems and software engineering, Dr. Lippert possesses a multifaceted engineering background. Her expertise spans various domains, including systems and enterprise architecture, information systems analysis and design, standards development, data science, analytical science, digital network exploitation, simulation, computer programming, cyber and target analysis, innovation, and instruction. Driven by a systems thinking approach and equipped with complex analytical techniques, she excels in pioneering solutions for challenging and intricate problems. Her innovative mindset and broad skill set make her an invaluable asset to the project, allowing for the exploration and resolution of novel and complex issues in plastic circularity in a systemic manner.Dr. Sean Walker is an Associate Professor in Systems Engineering at the University of South Alabama. He is an expert in life cycle assessment with a background in chemical engineering and extensive experience in evaluating the environmental impacts of plastics and sustainable materials. His expertise includes assessing material lifecycles, recycling technologies, and circular economy strategies, making him particularly well-suited to contribute to a course on plastic circularity.

• 1. Introduction and Understanding Plastic Circularity2. Polymer Fundamentals3. Plastic Waste Management4. Recycling Technologies5. Designing for Circularity6. Circular Economy Models7. Innovations in Plastic Circularity8. Application, Education and Awareness9. Future Trends and Opportunities