Guoliang “Greg” Liu joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about his journey in sustainability, focusing on the innovative process of converting plastic waste into soap. He shared insights on the challenges of controlling the chemical processes involved, the types of plastics used, and the potential for creating both liquid and solid soap products. He emphasized the importance of sustainability in the detergent industry and expressed hope for future commercialization of his work.

About Liu

Liu is a professor of chemistry in the College of Science, as well as an affiliated faculty member of the nanoscience program in the Academy of Integrated Science, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, the Macromolecules Innovation Institute, and the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology. His research focuses on novel ways to integrate materials in order to solve energy and environmental problems.

James Harder joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, specially highlighting the Department of Computer Science’s initiative, CS/root. Harder shared his belief that the entrepreneurship process can be learned and applied to various novel ideas and the ways the program hopes to teach and support it, as well as the role it will play in putting emerging technology in more people’s hands.

About Harder

Harder is the external engagement manager for Virginia Tech's Department of Computer Science and the executive director of CS/root. The department’s program to support and encourage computer science-focused entrepreneurship. His research interests include agricultural applications of blockchain, as well as other emergent technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, and cybersecurity.

Shalini Misra joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about how artificial intelligence (AI) might be used in the field of emergency management. She shared some of the different ways AI is currently being used and the concerns she’s heard from emergency managers. Misra also talks about the steps she believes will be necessary for the technology to reach its full potential in this field.

About Misra

Shalini Misra is an associate professor of urban affairs and planning in the School of Public and International Affairs, which is located in the Virginia Tech Research Center — Arlington. She is also an administrative fellow in the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment. Misra’s research interests include the social, psychological, and health implications of the Internet and digital communication technologies, as well as public interest technology, its design and deployment, and the governance of digital technologies.