There's chemistry in the air!

Bringing Chemistry to Life

If you thought a career in science means spending your best years in a dark laboratory for long, boring hours doing routine experiments, think again! Dr. Cora Young, from York University in Toronto, does a significant part of her environmental chemistry work in the field. From measuring air quality in residential and business spaces, to going high altitude on airplanes, or doing measurements in forests and even in the Arctic.

In this episode, we discuss research in the growing field of environmental chemistry, how it differs from traditional analytical chemistry, and what it means bringing high precision analysis out of controlled laboratory environments. Dr. Young sheds light on how analyzing air quality can have a profound impact on international regulations and quality of life. From understanding emissions of worrisome pollutants such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), to how cooking at home can affect our health, this is a fascinating discovery of the chemistry of air.

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About Your Host

Born and raised in Italy, Paolo Braiuca, a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, co-founded a startup company after conducting research in biocatalysis in Italy and the UK. He transitioned from R&D to business development, working in commercial, product management, and marketing roles in the specialty chemicals, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical markets in Germany and the UK. A busy father of four, if asked, he’ll call himself a “maker” at heart and enjoys inventing electronic devices in his free time.