Climate change, carbon dioxide, and materials chemistry
Abstract
Even though large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are not yet well-developed and bring a range of risks, they are also recognized as an integral part of any strategy to successfully limit global warming. In this context, I will provide a brief overview of several high-profile climate policy documents [1-3] that describe the current state of CDR technologies, and highlight specific identified challenges where materials chemistry approaches can help advance CDR solutions. Following this, I will show examples from my own research program that aim to train students within multidisciplinary collaborations that focus on linking fundamental science with the development of regionally appropriate CDR strategies. Multidisciplinarity is key because science and technology alone aren’t enough for success: effective policies, economics, and public engagement are also essential for mitigating climate change.
[1] IPCC, Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by H. Lee and J. Romero (IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 184 pp., 2023). DOI:10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647
[2] Washington Taylor, Brad Marston, Robert Rosner, and Jonathan Wurtele, PRX Energy 4, 017001 (2025). DOI: PRXEnergy.4.017001
[3] US Department of Energy Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences Roundtable, Foundational Science for Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies (Washington, D.C., USA, 4 pp., 2022). DOI: 10.2172/1868525
Bio
I've always been curious about how things work -- and love solving puzzles -- but I never intended to be a professor. My early career aspirations included geologist (age 5), astronaut (age 6-7), and aeronautical engineer (age 7-17). However, once I tried science research in a chemistry lab (age 19), I knew that research was the career path for me. After doing an undergraduate degree in physics (Carleton College, USA), a PhD in physics (Cornell University, USA), and post-doctoral research in chemistry (York University, Canada), I moved to Memorial University (St. John’s, Canada) where I have been a physics professor for more than 20 years. My research is a blend between physics and chemistry, focusing on understanding structural and physical property relations in inorganic materials. In a nutshell, I use physics to make complex problems more tractable. I enjoy working with interdisciplinary teams on research questions that support the sustainable energy transition, including science and social justice aspects, in order to address timely fundamental and applied research challenges. Much of our recent work relates to solid forms of carbon-rich materials, including carbonate minerals and biochar.