Episode 2 — Unbreakable: Forever chemicals with Professor Andrew

Tanentzap (Trent University, University of Cambridge)

PFAs are extremely resistant ‘forever’ chemicals that have found their way into many of the products we use on a daily basis. Their strong carbon bonds make them difficult to break down, endangering our environment. How can we reverse the damage done by persistent pollutants? Do we have enough time to leverage natural processes to eliminate PFAs before it’s too late? We speak with Professor Andrew Tanentzap, researcher at Trent University and University of Cambridge, about how we can utilise natural microorganisms to break down carbon-based pollutants.

Timestamps

Intro [00:00]

Meet the hosts [02:10]

Forever chemicals background [02:57]

About the episode [03:59]

Meet the guests [05:53]

Interview [06:40]

The Breakdown [19:39]

Expert Test [21:30]

Conclusion [25:35]

Meet our expert

Professor Andrew Tanentzap

Professor Andrew Tanentzap is Canada Research Chair in

Climate Change and Northern Ecosystems at Trent University and a Member of the

Royal Society of Canada College. He is also a Bye Fellow at Peterhouse College,

Cambridge and was previously Professor of Global Change Ecology in the

Department of Plant Sciences and Conservation Research Institute at the

University of Cambridge from 2013 to 2023. His research is at the interface of

ecology, evolutionary biology, and biogeochemistry, making fundamental

discoveries in understanding how environmental change impacts both biodiversity

and the benefits people receive from nature, including carbon sequestration,

food production, and safe drinking water.

Credits

Producer: Shazia Ur-Rehman (CTVC)

Content Producer: Stevie Strowman (CTVC)

Hosts: Mariama Ifode-Blease and Samuel Dada

Guest: Professor Andrew Tanentzap

Guest student: William Terry-Wright

Writer: Alastair Collinson (CTVC)

Researchers: William Terry-Wright, Bairavee R T Ravindran

Sound mixer: Pat Pretorius (CTVC)

Cover Art: Sam Osbourne

Learn more

Professor Tanentzap’s lab, the Ecosystems and Global Change Group