1. While all Laidlaw Scholars will be presenting their research at the Columbia Undergraduate Research Symposium in the fall, what are the more immediate expectations that you have for your research? Are you writing a paper? Will your research be part of a larger scientific study? Do you hope to produce an annotated bibliography that you reflect on down the line? Is your research now the first phase of a project you’ll continue to work on throughout the year, and/or next summer? Now that we are nearing the one month mark of the program, please write about your expectations for your research.

My more immediate expectations for this research project is to finish the 7-step synthesis process to create the tanglemers, placing myself in a position to do additional testing in the fall. I also expect to be a part of a larger manuscript that I will send, with my team, to publication during the fall semester. The goal, ultimately, is to be a part of the much larger scholarly conversation on how these materials can be created and better synthesized. I would contribute some piece of knowledge to this scientific field. That being said, I do not expect my research to end in a "breakthrough." I am aware of the limitations of this project, and last week, my mentor and I even discussed switching to another project because the current pathway to create these tanglemers is messy and will produce low yields. I still do believe in the current project, but my expectations are not idealistic.

2. Why does your research matter? Explain the significance of the question you are investigating, and why you are interested in it.

Currently, polymers with high cross-linking densities such as plastics, rubbers, and hydrogels cannot withstand deformation. They break down over time and are harder to recycle. We have all probably heard of the microplastics problem; the degradation of plastics have become environmental and health hazards for marine life, ecosystem infrastructure, and human health. One method to combat this degradation is to upcycle, which essentially means to make the plastics or polymers much stronger and resistant to breaking down. Instead of cross-links, chemists have successfully created tanglemers, polymers that have a higher concentration of entanglements with regard to cross-links. These tanglemers are tougher, stiffer, and can withstand/deconcentrate stress much more easily. In other words, they can lead to upcycling patterns. Yet, a problem in this field is synthesizing or creating these polymers. Thus, my research focusses on a synthetic route for the creation of these tanglemers, while also reaffirming the current literature about the durability of these polymers. I was particularly drawn to this research out of a multitude of factors. The first is that during my research in high school, I was particularly drawn to the different methods of synthesis of materials like gold nanoparticles which led to different properties. This interest in synthesis brought me to an interest in the creation of new and unique polymers. The second factor is that I've become more and more drawn to climate-related issues after taking a Climate Humanities class here at Columbia. Not only was this class my favorite out of the classes I've taken thus far, but I also found myself struck by the importance of climate-related issues. These issues seep slowly but directly into our lives, and I was especially struck by the discovery that a large amount of microplastics have been found in modern human brains. To me, this exacerbated the prevalence of these issues in human society and the STEM world.