BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ZContent.net//ZapCalLib 1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:How ‘Gen Chem’ Inspired a Discovery of a ‘Gene 217; for Infinitely Recyclable Polymers Towards a Circular Plastics Econom y LOCATION:Chemistry A101 TZID:America/Denver DTSTART:20189001T000000 UID:2026-04-05-19-54-56@natsci.colostate.edu DTSTAMP:20260405T195456 Description:The current practices in the generation and disposal of synthet ic polymers are largely unsustainable. Several solutions have been intensi vely pursued to address this global challenge but the current solutions su ffer from either significant materials value and quality losses or uninten ded environmental consequences. To address this challenge\, we have design ed and synthesized next-generation sustainable polymers that not only exhi bit robust physical and mechanical properties required for practical use b ut can also be thermally and/or chemically depolymerized back to their mon omers in quantitative selectivity\, yield\, and purity\, which can be dire ctly repolymerized into the same polymer. This process can be repeated\, i n principle\, infinitely\, thereby establishing a circular life cycle of s uch chemically recyclable polymers. A recount of this journey will emphasi ze what we all have learned from General Chemistry can inspire us to think more critically when dealing with real research problems. 4:00 pm END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR