Polymers Unchained

The Stache Lab

Have you ever wondered about the different types of plastic, or why recycling is so complicated for each one? Have you ever wanted to learn more, but don't know where to start, or feel like the subject is too hard? Fear not! The Stache Lab at Princeton University is here to lay it all out for you in simple and easy to understand terms, no prior chemistry knowledge required. In this podcast, our hosts Clotilde and Lejla will walk you through the basics of polymer science, current recycling strategies, and highlight new methods for polymer upcycling and chemical recycling to monomer. In future episodes, we will host professionals from across a variety of sectors to weigh in on the present and future of recycling, highlighting novel strategies. Our goal with this podcast is to help the general public understand what challenges we face in developing new recycling strategies, as well as learn methods to help mitigate waste and affect change in your own communities.

33 minutes 17 seconds
Episode 4 - One Advisor's Trash is a Grad Student's PhD!
This time we interview grad student Hanning Jiang, undergraduate Erik Medina, and Prof. Erin Stache to talk about the innovative ways they have transformed plastic waste into commodity products!
21 March 2025, 7:00 pm
34 minutes 26 seconds
Episode 3 - Holiday Special
Episode 3! Holiday special featuring our very own Erin Stache. We discuss some fun topics related to plastics in holiday magic, Santa Claus' involvement in plastic production, and human sacrifice!
23 December 2024, 9:00 pm
32 minutes 14 seconds
Episode 2 - Introduction part 2
More on the history of polymers and all about RICs!
27 November 2024, 3:00 pm
31 minutes 29 seconds
Episode 1 - Introduction
Welcome to Episode 1! In this episode, our hosts Clotilde and Lejla jump right in to the basics of polymer chemistry, defining some basic terms which we will carry forward. We then begin to introduce the first plastics in the Resin Identification Codes, which detail the most common types of plastics.
29 October 2024, 7:00 pm
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