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SUBSTANCE
Stories about the stuff that shapes our world.
SUBSTANCE is a podcast about the discoveries and innovations in chemistry and beyond helping us to develop sustainable solutions. Host Joe Hanson exchanges ideas with international guests and BASF experts and presents visionary projects and exciting innovations. Curious? Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an episode.
Listen now to our latest episode on light or read the interview!
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Latest Episode: Light
In this illuminating episode of SUBSTANCE, host Joe Hanson explores how scientists are developing more sustainable ways to produce light and color, from bioluminescent glow sticks to next-generation display technologies.
Dr. Richard Frantz, Head of R&D for BASF’s display business unit, takes us inside modern screens and explains how BASF’s innovative QDYES™ technology uses organic molecules to offer a recyclable solution for high-performance displays without restricted heavy metals.
You can also join guest expert Paige Whitehead, co-founder and CEO of LUX BIO, on her fascinating journey developing a sustainable alternative to traditional glow sticks with the help of bioluminescence. Her enzyme-based glow sticks provide a solution for applications ranging from commercial fishing to emergency lighting at sea or in mines.
Our guest: Dr. Richard Frantz
Richard Frantz has led R&D for BASF’s Display Division since 2022. He earned his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Montpellier, France, in 2001. After research posts at ETH Zurich and the University of Geneva in Switzerland, he moved into industry as a research scientist. In 2012 he joined the Swiss display start‑up Rolic Technologies, which was acquired by BASF in 2017.
Our guest: Paige Whitehead
Paige Whitehead is co-founder and CEO of LUX BIO, a biotech startup turning bioluminescence into sustainable consumer products from eco-friendly glow sticks to industrial applications. Paige began fundraising for the environment at eight what led to an invitation to the UN Children’s Conference on the Environment. When she saw piles of discarded glow sticks at a music festival, she was determined to develop an alternative using bioluminescence. With this goal she studied Microbiology, Environmental Studies, and Permaculture Design at the University of Victoria, USA. She developed prototypes, enlisted support from MIT, built a network of scientists and entrepreneurs and founded LUX BIO in 2021.
Our host: Joe Hanson, PhD
Joe Hanson is an internationally recognized science communicator. Before working in science media and education, he researched genetic engineering and cancer biology, obtaining a PhD in biology from the University of Texas.
He is the creator, host, and head writer of Be Smart, a YouTube science education show with more than 5 million subscribers on YouTube.
Hanson has won Webby and Telly Awards and the Kavli Science Journalism Award for his work.
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