AstroSoc x PPS - Regolith biocomposites for off-world construction - Talk by Dr Aled Roberts
Channel: UoB AstroSoc
Date: 14/10/2022

To celebrate World Space Week 2022, AstroSoc and PPS present to you an extraordinary talk by Dr Aled Roberts entitled 'Regolith biocomposites for off-world construction'. More information below:

Abstract: Future habitats on the Lunar and Martian surfaces will need thick walls and ceilings to protect inhabitants from exposure to solar and galactic radiation. The high cost of extra-orbital payload delivery means that such a shielding material will be produced in situ from locally available resources – a concept known as in situ resource utilisation (ISRU). Although several technology options have been proposed to produce bulk extraterrestrial construction materials, most have serious flaws such as extremely high energy use, the need for specific mineral deposits or high mass processing equipment. In this presentation, the notion of regolith-biopolymer composites (biocomposites) will be presented as a relatively feasible and economical solution to the production of high-compressive strength materials from local extraterrestrial resources.

Bio: After completing a Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Liverpool (UoL), Aled undertook a PhD in Materials Engineering jointly at UoL and the Institute for Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) in Singapore. Following this, Aled undertook several short postdoctoral positions at the University of Manchester where he specialised at the interface between materials engineering and biotechnology. Aled is now a Research Fellow at the Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub (FBRH) where he works to advance sustainable industrial biotechnology. He is also Founder and CTO of a start-up, DeakinBio, which is developing sustainable alternatives to ceramic tiles.

0:00 Abstract
4:48 Introduction
7:18 Talk
56:15 Questions