Throughout April,Trojan Family Magazine will highlight Trojans who have significantly contributed to sustainability at the University of Southern California.

During the early phase of the COVID-19 lockdown, Megan Fieser unexpectedly found herself with time to contemplate reinvention and the direction of her research.

Since becoming a member of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences as the Gabilan Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 2018, Fieser has focused on how biodegradable plastics can serve as viable substitutes for traditional, nondegradable materials.

Amid the pandemic, she chose to center her research on polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely manufactured yet harmful plastic. “I was seeking an area that I could expand within my research program,” Fieser mentions. “PVC turned out to be that intriguing aspect for me.”

Innovative solutions for established materials

Transforming PVC products into beneficial new materials that are less detrimental to the environment became one of the primary objectives at Fieser Lab USC, which Fieser established in 2018. “There are only a few individuals who devote time to PVC because it is extremely challenging to work with,” she asserts — yet that is precisely why it warrants attention, she adds.

PVC is utilized in an astonishing variety of common items, ranging from IV bags in healthcare facilities and vinyl records to children’s meal toys, shower curtains, credit cards, and construction supplies like pipes and windows.

However, its longevity has a downside: It emits harmful and caustic substances, does not decompose easily, and is difficult to dispose of and recycle responsibly. “The main duty of my research group is to discover methods to create materials that decompose more efficiently or are easier to recycle,” Fieser articulates.

At Fieser Lab USC, she and her students have devised a technique to swiftly remove chlorine from PVC in an environmentally conscious manner — without generating caustic gases. Fieser has submitted a patent application for the process, which could represent a significant advancement in finding scalable, cost-effective strategies for repurposing PVC waste in a commercially viable manner.

Enhancing plastic sustainability is no simple task, Fieser explains. “Most of these plastics were essentially created in the 1950s, and the methods we use to manufacture them have not evolved since,” she clarifies. “We discovered a very inexpensive and durable manner of producing these materials, but they weren’t intended to be recyclable or biodegradable.”

Facilitating student achievement

Fieser knew at 16 that her ambition was to become a chemistry professor. Now in her desired role, she aims to impart more to her students than just the rigors of science and the workings of industrial chemistry. She also intends for them to have strong career opportunities.

Fieser is determined to ensure her students involved in plastic sustainability can cultivate their skills in inorganic, polymer, and sustainable chemistry that prepare them for success in the job market. She frequently ponders: “If my students aspire to work in the industry, how can I provide them the right experiences for that? How do I ensure they are exposed to appropriate opportunities?”

Interdisciplinary minor in plastic circularity

With the goal of expanding students’ professional opportunities, Fieser collaborated with her colleagues, chemistry professors Barry Thompson and Travis Williams, to create an interdisciplinary minor in plastic circularity, which was launched in fall 2023. The minor includes a comprehensive course designed by Fieser and integrates classes from environmental sciences, business, engineering, and chemistry.

“They can secure positions that contribute to the solution,” she states, “but it doesn’t have to be solely as a scientist.”

Beyond a beach cleanup

Since 2019, Fieser has also coordinated frequent local beach cleanups that have amassed nearly 250,000 items to date. Conducted three times a year, these events not only focus on eliminating plastic waste but also monitor the types of plastic that wash ashore.

“We encourage participants to tally the items they collect,” Fieser remarks. “When you sit down and pick up 1,000 items in two hours, it prompts you to reflect on your consumer choices and consider how you might enact change in the future. It’s the most profound impact — it serves as a bit of a wake-up call.”

The next of the tri-annual cleanups will happen from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on June 8 at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach.