From Algae to Bioplastics: The Making of Ecosophy

Native algae grow around North East and Scottish coasts and biologically convert anthropocentric carbon dioxide into biomass including biodegradable plastic polymers, which 21st-century biotech industry has valorised as sustainable plastics.

However, there is little understanding in the real sustainability of marine bioplastics around the whole circularity from bioproduction to intellectual and utilitarian consumption.

Forging a new collaboration between Newcastle University and the Earthshot-Prize winning algal bioplastic company Notpla, the studentship will critically explore the process of making and aims to architect ecosophy - ecological and ethical materiality against mentalities behind plastic pollution and beyond.