On May 12th, Judy gave the Opening Keynote at Biopolymers 2014 -- a Symposium bringing together key innovators in the bioplastic and biopolymers industry organized by Smithers Rapra -- entitled "Biopolymers and Plastics: Expectations and Reality." 

The promise of transforming traditional petroleum based value streams for polymers and plastics to biobased ones has seen its fits and starts. Larger investments in the first decade of the 21st century are declining and the specter of new, abundant and cheap hydrocarbon sources looms large on the horizon. How will biobased systems compete on the three key parameters for success: cost, performance and scale? And will the results be enough to transform expectations to reality?

On May 8th, Judy was the featured speaker in the Inspiring Women In STEM Forum for her talk "Go Ahead... Brag!" This forum is organized by Delaware Bio, Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance, and the Technology Forum of Delaware, and sponsored by Ashland Water Technologies.

A successful STEM career is not only about doing great science – it is also about convincing and sharing with others why it is important and why we are the ones capable of doing it!

One way women can become successful STEM leaders is through bragging. But bragging gets a bad rap. Shouldn’t we be modest and let the work speak for itself or let others brag about us? NO - bragging is not the problem, being comfortable doing it is the challenge.