On December 6, the Cellulose Valley Chair hosted the first edition of its webinar dedicated to the science of cellulose: Cellience. The event was a great success, with over 370 participants from around the world. We spoke with Julien BRAS, the Chair’s holder, and René ROMERO, a doctoral student and engineer at the Chair, for more information.
What was the purpose of this webinar?
J : The main purpose of this webinar was to share knowledge about cellulose. We were able to show industry professionals and students just how valuable cellulose is in its various applications, even though it is a complex material that is difficult to understand, study, and characterize. The idea was to provide a free, comprehensive overview of cellulose to anyone interested.
R : As Julien said, the idea behind this webinar was to make this knowledge more accessible, particularly to countries that don’t necessarily have access to it. This webinar was a great opportunity to share knowledge with as many people as possible.
What were the main topics discussed during the meeting?
J : This webinar was divided into three parts:
- The different types of cellulose and nanocellulose: To demonstrate that we can extract this material from various sources (wood, cotton, flax, etc.) and use it on different scales.
- How to characterize it, both in terms of structure and surface properties: Understanding the surface and how to make it more hydrophobic (more water-resistant), and therefore how we can measure and analyze this parameter.
- How to use it and what the different applications are (with input from technical centers in Finland and Canada): How to make transparent films, foams for masks, or packaging coated with nanocellulose. There was a wide range of applications; it was quite varied.
Who were the speakers at this webinar?
J : The speakers were mainly researchers and professors, as we wanted the scientific community to be represented. This is also reflected in the name of the webinar, Cellience, short for “Cellulose Science.” These speakers came from all over the world: France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Canada… We were lucky, because it was a holiday in Finland, yet they still joined us.
How many people were there?
J : J : Nous avons eu plus de 370 inscrits. Ce qui nous a marqué, c’est qu’il y avait des personnes venant de tous les continents et pays : Europe, Asie, Nouvelle-Zélande, Canada, États-Unis, … Il y avait aussi différents niveaux : des étudiants en master, des doctorants, des professeurs, … C’était très varié. Nous étions aussi surpris de voir que beaucoup d’industriels s’étaient inscrits. C’était une belle opportunité de partager les connaissances sur la cellulose au plus grand nombre.
We are very pleased with the success of this webinar, which peaked at 135 people connected at the same time. Our initial goal was to have around 40 participants. We ended up tripling that number, so we more than met our goal. Plus, organizing this Zoom session was quite complex, and we were worried about technical issues, but in the end, everything went smoothly.
What are the benefits of cellulose in the packaging industry?
R : Cellulose is bio-based; it’s the most abundant polymer on the planet. It’s a recyclable material, and we’ve known how to recycle it effectively for a long time. It’s also biodegradable. These are its main advantages over plastic. We could also discuss more specific properties. For example, cellulose has interesting mechanical properties.
J : I think René answered the question well. It’s the only polymer that has these three properties: bio-based, recyclable, and biodegradable. This gives it many advantages in terms of environmental impact. On the other hand, cellulose has a few drawbacks compared to plastic. It doesn’t offer the same performance or levels of protection. That’s precisely what the research at the Cellulose Valley Chair and within the cellulose community is focused on.
Do you plan to host this webinar again in the coming years?
J : Yes, we plan to hold this webinar every year, while continuing to evolve its format. At the end of this first edition, we began thinking about exploring new directions, while maintaining the same core concept: an afternoon open to everyone, focused on learning about and discovering cellulose. This is very important to us, as sharing knowledge is one of the Chair’s core missions.
How did the Grenoble Foundation help you organize this webinar?
J : The Foundation was a key partner, as it helped us with the event’s communications, particularly by designing a flyer and setting up the registration page online. This allowed us to promote the event on our social media channels and reach as many people as possible in a very short time. Without the Foundation, we would not have been able to organize this event.
What are the Cellulose Valley Chair's upcoming projects?
J : In addition to these international webinar initiatives, we want to engage more closely with the community, and as part of that effort, the Chair will be participating in Pint of Science Pint of Science events in the coming months. These events involve visiting bars to explain scientific topics in an accessible way. This will allow us to share even more about cellulose in a friendly, informal setting. We also plan to participate in the Fête de la science, which is scheduled to take place in October 2023.
