Innovation Seminar Series Talk: Material Health, Human Health, Planet Health

Speaker: Alison Mears, Director and Co-Funder of Healthy Materials Lab

We will investigate the problematic relationship between human health and the built environment. Traditional definitions of sustainability situate material health within the context of the planet, its environment, and economics. Alison Mears' research, creative practice, and teaching explores an expanded definition of sustainability, which places human health at the center of the system. She will present innovative strategies, tools and practices that enable architects and designers to transform their materials practices, to help design and build healthier places for all people that are also beneficial for the planet.

About the speakerr
About the Speaker Alison Mears is an architect, Associate Professor of Architecture, and Director and Co-Founder of Healthy Materials Lab (2015). She is co-Principal Investigator of the Healthy Affordable Materials Project (HAMP), a coalition of four organisations who work together to detoxify the interior environments of Affordable Housing.

In the past six years, her academic research and creative practice have focused on investigating the problematic relationship between human health and the built environment. As the Director of the Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design, Mears leverages her knowledge and experience as a long-term academic leader within the institution and her practice-based experience as an architect to confront one of the more serious and often overlooked environmental challenges of our time: the health of the built environment.

Previously, Mears served as the Parsons Dean of the School of Design Strategies and Director of the BFA Architectural Design and Interior Design programs. Her work draws from the long tradition at The New School University’s commitment to promoting community-based sustainability, social engagement and environmental justice. She continues to practice architecture as a partner in her own architectural practice, with an increasing focus on community-based, pro bono work.

This is a joint NanoDTC-Impulse-Maxwell Innovation Seminar Series, with speakers who are at different stages in their Innovation and Entrepreneurship journey.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/material-health-human-health-planet-health-tickets-203204448977

This series of seminars happens monthly and speakers will present their ideas and experiences on how innovation impacts their endeavours. With format of a 45 minute talk, followed by Q&A.