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In the world of water technology, sometimes the most significant discoveries come from the tiniest of particles. Talie Zarei’s journey into the realm of molecular limescaling structures took her instead to the realm of nanobubbles – a blessing in disguise.
“I’ve always been interested in science, but I only got into physics later. I enjoyed applied physics on water during my MSc thesis and continued as a researcher.” Her move to Wetsus for her PhD felt like a calling. “When Wetsus opened a PhD vacancy, it felt like the universe was calling me,” she says with a smile. And a perfect fit, she was.
The people behind the science, and the science behind the people.
Talie’s research focuses on the ever-changing state of particles before they start crystalizing – dynamic pre-nucleation clusters that initiate calcium carbonate formation. “DOLLOPs are nanoscale structures that form before calcium carbonate crystallizes into limescale,” Talie explains. “Their existence was only recently discovered, challenging classical crystallization theories, which assume that solids form directly from dissolved charged particles.”
The importance of this research extends beyond academic curiosity. Understanding and controlling DOLLOPs could have practical applications in mitigating calcium carbonate buildup in everyday items. “From water kettles to membranes, pipes, and showers, managing limescale is a common issue.” Studying these elusive structures presents unique challenges. “Characterizing DOLLOPs has to be done in situ, in their native liquid environment at minuscule concentrations,” Talie says. To overcome this hurdle, she employed an innovative approach using multi-angle light scattering.
Talie’s journey took an unexpected turn when her initial experiments yielded puzzling results. “I was very excited at first as I soon saw results,” she recalls. “But then I noticed similar patterns in controls without calcium, and the structures were larger than expected. I was devastated, thinking I had spent so long to get to that point for nothing.”
However, this apparent setback led to a fascinating discovery. “We realized I was measuring nanobubbles – tiny CO2 bubbles in solution that are impossibly small and shouldn’t exist naturally in liquid, but somehow do!”
These nanobubbles opened a new avenue of research. The bubbles are exciting because they are charged and interact with pre-nucleation clusters and nanodroplets, slowing down the solidification of calcium carbonate. “Even more intriguing, we found they are controllable with magnetic fields– we can manipulate their charge, size, and other properties.” As Talie continues her research, she’s contributing to our understanding of water at the nanoscale level. Her work with DOLLOPs and the unexpected discovery of manipulable nanobubbles may lead to innovative chemical-free solutions for water treatment and beyond.
Abstract
The realisation of a circular economy has thus far unfolded under the assumption that it would fit within existing economic arrangements. In practice, we witness many circular initiatives struggling to give shape to their ambitions, let alone develop to maturity. These past months, various material recycling organisations terminated their activities, seeing virgin alternatives from other parts of the world flooding the market at prices against they cannot compete. If the transition towards a circular economy (i.e. an economy of value preservation) is to be taken seriously, a new perspective on value in our economic system seems unavoidable, as the rewriting of the rules of the economic game. At this moment, current perceptions of value stand in the way of this transition both at micro as well as macro levels. Several contours for a collective exploration of new directions of value and economic configuration that foster circular transition will be addressed.
Abstract
In his key note he will conclude after a life of innovations that it is impossible that humanity will stay within the save planetary boundaries with innovation only. We should be more critical about the behaviour of the rich population in the world and more critical about new innovations that prove to be dangerous, like the PFAS crisis shows at this moment. In his keynote he will investigate how to look at the world that can stay within the save planetary boundaries, how should we change ourselves? It is clear if we only talk about the words of science and systems we miss the essential words of how we should cooperate and change ourselves. And his search for coherent save innovations. Which innovations will be save and will lead to a fair and sustainable world? And will lead to a world we want to live in.
Abstract
There is a growing number of new sustainable, inclusive, cohesive, participatory, just and humane economic models. A possible next step in the discourse about them is the comparative analysis in order to find out key commonalities, potential synergies, and “requirements” for a future-fit economic model. The author and initiator of the Economy for the Common Good provides an overview of these „new sustainable economic models“ and compares them according to underlying values, principles, and practical ways of implementation. The keynote addresses the cooperative spirit of the conference and prepares the ground for its public highlight on the eve of June 3rd, the round table with representatives of diverse future-fit economic models.
Abstract
The scientific debate on whether economies should always continue to grow increasingly becomes a political and societal debate. On the one hand further growth for the most affluent countries seems neither possible nor valuable, but on the other hand there is still lack of understanding and knowledge what a non-growing economy should look like and could best be governed. In this lecture we discuss various policy measures that can be realistically implemented, take into account government finances and aim at a higher quality of life despite a non-growing economy.
Abstract
Democracy is under pressure, and less and less able to stir the economy into a sustainable direction. Therefore, to stabilize democracy and to make possible the socio-ecological transformation of the economy, democratic principles need to be implemented directly in the economy. This is not only a matter of morality, but also has practical advantages. Democratizing the economy can increase legitimacy and take advantage of the “knowledge of the many” to accelerate the transformation. Democratic practices, especially deliberation, allow bringing together different forms of knowledge, which is crucial for the local implementation of principles of social and ecological sustainability. This talk explores what this idea means in more concrete terms, from democratic participation in the workplace to the democratization of time.
Abstract
Over the past decades, markets have conventionally been seen as the best instrument to stimulate economic growth and enhance prosperity and well-being. The automatic link between markets and economic growth is increasingly questioned, however, as well as the automatic link between economic growth and enhancement of well-being. This has led to attempts to capture well-being development more directly than through GDP per capita figures and has produced a more variegated picture of well-being growth. Also, this has led to a shift of focus to other coordination systems than the market, as primarily the state but increasingly also the association. Analyses of the historical record suggest that especially the latter could be a vital component in future well-being.
