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Upcoming Webinar: Cotton’s Biodegradability, Part 2

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The issue of microfiber and microplastic pollution is gaining traction with those concerned about protecting the environment. However, do you know the fate of cotton in aquatic environments?

Join us on Tuesday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. ET for another webinar exploring cotton’s afterlife, this time in water. This webinar will dive into two specific areas:

1. The state of the science regarding emerging research on microfibers and the problems they pose to the natural environment.

2. Cotton’s degradation in conditions similar to a wastewater treatment plant.

Hear as researchers from University of California – Santa Barbara and North Carolina State University give a breakdown of the science behind this topic.

UPDATE: Registration for this webinar is now closed. Click here to see the replay.

About the Speakers

Dr. Jesse Daystar
Chief Sustainability Officer
Cotton Incorporated

Webinar Moderator

Dr. Jesse Daystar is the Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Sustainability at Cotton Incorporated. In this role, Daystar oversees and coordinates internal and external sustainability efforts. These efforts include directing sustainability research, working with cotton industry stakeholders to develop industry stainability goals, assisting in the communication of sustainability messages, and providing technical insights to Cotton Incorporated, the cotton industry, and brands.

Dr. Daystar’s career at Cotton Incorporated began in 2017. Prior to his work at Cotton Incorporated, Daystar was the Assistant Director of the Center for Sustainability and Commerce at Duke University where he directed sustainability research for apparel, energy, bioproduct, and other industry sectors. He earned his two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Chemical Engineering and Pulp & Paper Engineering, a Master’s of Science Degree and a Ph.D. in Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University.

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Timnit Kefela
Doctoral Student
University of California, Santa Barbara
Webinar Presenter

Timnit Kefela is a doctoral student in the Holden Lab at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at University of California, Santa Barbara. Her dissertation research is focused on understanding the ubiquity of microfibers, the role wastewater treatment infrastructure plays and their environmental effects.

Marielis Zambrano
Doctoral Student
North Carolina State University
Webinar Presenter

Marielis Zambrano is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Forest Biomaterials through the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University (NCSU), and received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University Las Andes in Venezuela. Her studies at the University Las Andes focused on emulsions and using asphaletnes as surfactants. Prior to coming to NCSU, Marielis was employed by Procter and Gamble Venezuela as a project manager and sustainability leader for initiatives in liquid packaging lines. After that, she supervised the Head & Shoulders Shampoo operation at Procter and Gamble Venezuela.