See Healthcare Differently

The Royal Society and Professor Mark Miodownik invite you to "See Stuff Differently".

The world is changing fast, and materials science is more important than you think. It's everywhere in how we do things, why we do things, and how we see the world. In this panel discussion, we gather some of the UK's brightest minds to see if they can See Healthcare Differently.

Data suggests that the healthcare sector is responsible for up to 5% of the world’s carbon footprint – more than aviation and shipping combined – and is a huge driver of plastic pollution. The NHS alone throws away 133,000 tons of plastic each year, with single-use items like gloves, packaging and protective gowns driving this massive demand.

Clearly, healthcare is essential for a functioning society, but the global population is only increasing, and in order for healthcare systems globally to modernise and meet demand, the sector will require even more energy, more hospitals, more medical equipment and more materials. Could advances in materials science help to keep people and our planet healthy?

Speakers:

See Stuff Differently is a programme that invites you to discover the materials that shape our everyday lives and explore their impact on people and the planet. As part of Professor Mark Miodownik's Professorship for Public Engagement in Science, the programme brings together materials scientists from across the UK to spark conversations, foster curiosity and encourage new ways of thinking about the material world around us.