Road salt is destroying our environment. Fish could help. | Monika Bleszynski | TEDxMileHigh

You’ve probably heard that plastics are bad. Only 5% of plastic is recycled. 12 million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year. And one study found microplastics in 100% of the water and marine organisms they tested. But materials scientist Monika Bleszynski believes plastic isn’t inherently bad. Instead, we can engineer plastics for good – plastics that are not only better for the environment but plastics that solve environmental problems. That was the idea behind her newest invention: an ecofriendly road salt alternative made of plastics inspired by fish!

Dr. Monika Bleszynski received her Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Denver, specializing in polymer materials. Her academic research focuses on assessing the effects of polymer and plastic damage on various products and the environment and finding sustainable polymer alternatives. She has taught classes at the University of Denver and recently joined a Silicon Valley-backed startup to develop solutions to address global plastic pollution and resource scarcity. In her spare time, she enjoys woodworking and traveling to far-flung locations with her husband. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx