Workshop on Sustainable Approaches to Materials Research, Including Life Cycle Assessment

A Workshop entitled ÒSustainable Approaches to Materials Research, Including Life Cycle AssessmentÓ was held June 3 and June 4, 2016, at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This Workshop introduced materials researchers to concepts associated with sustainable approaches to materials research. Such concepts include: elemental sustainability (resources and economic factors) and the possibility of elemental substitution; materials life cycle assessment and analysis; exergy; the role of legislation and standards; eco-informed materials selection. The presentation format included invited speakers discussing the theory with learning objects as to the workshop format, and carrying out life cycle assessments in small groups. The groups presented to the full audience on the second day, and the results were discussed. In attendance were 36 graduate students, 5 postdoctoral fellows and 13 others. Attendees came from Dalhousie University, several local universities, as well as from University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Western Ontario and UniversitŽ de MontrŽal.