What is your research field / your key areas of interest?
Optimisation of cellulose based films to provide renewable and biodegradable food packaging solutions by application of macro and microscopic materials analysis techniques.
Why SCI? How did you first get involved and why would you encourage your peers to join?
I first became involved with SCI after winning Gold at STEM for Britain in the Physics category. SCI reached out and welcomed me into their network with a free SCI membership. Since then I have attended the SCI scholar’s showcase where I learnt more about what SCI do and how I can get involved, I was also thrilled to be awarded the first place poster prize!
SCI aims to be ‘where science meets business’. What is the potential commercial application of your research?
My research into cellulose-based films was first commercialised in the 1930s in the form of Cellophane. In modern times we are seeing a resurgence in the popularity of these films due to sustainability pressures on society. As such, the optimisation of these films to achieve wide scale commercialisation above synthetic plastics is extremely important. Some of the routes we can do this include investigating a range of plant sources to extract the cellulose from, as well as the function of softeners and additives in the films themselves.
What do you hope to gain from your involvement with SCI?
Having worked with industry partners, Futamura, I understand the importance of building links and networks between industry and academia. I am driven by seeing the application of research and knowing that the work I am doing will address a challenge. I hope that through SCI I can build a network with like-minded people and see and help this happen in a range of sectors.
Alex Gresty
University of Leeds – Soft Matter Physics
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