Creosote, Community, and Consequences: Material Longevity in the Petro-Chemical Gulf South
Presenters
- Denise Frazier, MIT Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Scholar, DMSE
- Ellan Spero, Instructor, DMSE
- Professor Christine Ortiz, Morris Cohen Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, DMSE
- Les Cenelles (Joseph Darensbourg, Peter J Bowling).
About This Event
This MLK Scholar presentation bridges the material, chemical and cultural dimensions of the US Gulf South region and the shared human experience of the Anthropocene through original research and musical composition.
Creosote is a complex, naturally derived carbonaceous material composed of a mixture of organic compounds (i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol, and creosols) distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative in the transportation and construction sectors—bridgework, railroad ties, marine pilings, utility poles, and other wooden infrastructure systems, due to its chemical properties that inhibit decay and insect infestation. Creosote has had wide-reaching unintended consequences as these small molecules are carcinogenic and pervasive environmental contaminants, posing risks to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.
This presentation highlights collaborative research and features original musical performance by Les Cenelles (led by Frazier), which explores creosote as a point of inquiry to discuss materials, history, and storytelling.
This event is sponsored by the Institute Community and Equity Office and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. It is free and open to the public. Lunch is provided.
To register, visit Eventbrite.