Michael Shaver

Professor Michael Shaver is a Professor of Polymer Science and Materials Engineering at The University of Manchester's School of Natural Sciences. He leads initiatives like Sustainable Futures and the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, focusing on sustainable polymers, plastics, and materials for recycling. His research spans fundamental polymer design to translational projects in plastic packaging and waste management. Previously, he held roles at the University of Edinburgh and University of Prince Edward Island.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry (2005) - University of British Columbia
• BSc Honours Chemistry (1999) - Mount Allison University

Research Interests: Sustainable polymers, plastics recycling (mechanical/chemical), biodegradable materials, and interdisciplinary approaches combining polymer chemistry with social science and economics. His team develops self-healing polymers, medical sensors, and circular system strategies for material lifecycle management.

Recent Themes in Articles: Focus on quantifying recycled content in plastics, enhancing polyester durability, frustrated Lewis pair polymers, and HDPE recyclate analysis. These studies address challenges in material characterization, recycling process optimization, and environmental impact mitigation.

Awards:

• MacroGroup Young Polymer Scientist Award (2015)
• Young Academy of Scotland Membership (2014-2018)
• Canada Foundation for Innovation Leadership Awards (2010, 2012)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining

Grants & Projects:

• EMBRACE: Sustainable conveyor belt recycling
• Future Homes: Low-carbon building materials
• RE3: PET recycling innovations

Labs/Teams: Green Materials Laboratory (greenmaterialslaboratory.com) and Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub (smihub.ac.uk).