Julian R. Silverman
@manhattanscientist.bsky.social
690 followers 930 following 4.5K posts
⚗️ teaching science @ the Fashion Institute 🧼 researching waste-derived materials 🌈 Forthcoming from RSC Books: How and Why Soap Works #pigments #inks #mordants #paper fan of #gardenindicators https://sites.google.com/view/sustainable-materials-lab/home
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manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Saw some beautiful Stibnite minerals at the @brucemuseum.bsky.social in Westport CT.

While you could grind these into dust for kohl I’m glad they are safely behind glass.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
These air quality instruments are popular seats in the subway.

I wonder if the data analysis accounts for this or can see this in the results?
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Soap soap soap + cabbage indicators.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Super excited to share the new Soy Chemistry Curriculum made possible by Beyond Benign

Across many FREE modules, students explore topics related to Life Cycle Assessments, Adhesives, as well as case studies for how soy-based materials appear across our lives.

gctlc.org/soy-chemistr...
Soy Chemistry Curriculum: Innovating for Sustainability | Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC)
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gctlc.org
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Why do I have to sit thru a half hour demo from the publishers/book store when all my resources are OERs?
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
If only there were a good book on soap to help prevent issues like that…
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Using biobased and synthetic glues students exploring joining together different cellulosic waste materials (and some proteinaceous stuff too):
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
My TA trying not to groan when for the fourth time in one week when I make the joke to my students that we have unfortunately not won this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
It’s a great day for MOFs.

Our gen chem lab is built around them: students forage leaves for tannic acid and then connect them to iron from scrap metal.

They use these iron tannates as pigments dyes and in inks and paints!

Functional MOFs from waste:
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
It’s a great day for MOFs.

Our gen chem lab is built around them: students forage leaves for tannic acid and then connect them to iron from scrap metal.

They use these iron tannates as pigments dyes and in inks and paints!

Functional MOFs from waste:
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
For my first three years at FIT we didn't use acronyms for our department, but overnight we have become the S&M Department and I just think it gives the wrong impression to our students about science and math.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Teaching is great. You don’t need an app to tell you about subway delays your students are always updating you when they are late.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Had a great time with Lectures on Tap at Liz’s Book Bar in BK yesterday.

It was a joy lecturing about book arts and material science to a local crowd.

The point of the story: books get MUSTY* and must be handled appropriately.

*Misleading, Ugly, Superseded, Trivial, Yeeted
Funding for the SEM provided by NSF National Science Foundation (award #1919563).
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Some more shots from the Center for Books Arts
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Adorable post cards from the #BoekieWoekie exhibit at the Center for #BookArts
Reposted by Julian R. Silverman
rsc.org
📢 The Sustainable Laboratories Grant 2025 is still open for applications!

Could you increase understanding in sustainable laboratory practices? Our grant will offer up to £10,000 to help you achieve this goal.
CLOSING SOON - Apply by 6 October: rsc.li/sustainable-labs-grant #ChemSky
Illustration for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Sustainable Laboratories Grant 2025. It features several scientists working in a vibrant, plant-filled lab. A quote by William Gee from Griffith University, Australia, highlights the importance of challenging conventional wisdom in science. A call to action encourages viewers to find out more.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Yeah the permutations are the fun part. It took me a while because I was playing poker rather than balatro
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Oh it’s so good, you won’t blink and it will be hours later.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
I’ve been digesting metals from waste for demos and have one slot let what should I add?

So far: copper zinc lead tin iron ‘silver’ and aluminum
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
😬 😱 😥

Methanol, not even once.
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
Lots of bad news today but this hits very hard

What will the future look like if we don’t support curious students?
manhattanscientist.bsky.social
When I first started teaching I was very into green chem and wouldn’t do examples using chromium and mercury

Ten plus years later I’ve been brining more alchemy and history of chemistry/cosmetics in and can’t escape lead mercury and arsenic