About
Dr Alvin Orbaek White (Dr. Orb) is a Associate Professor and former Welsh Government Sêr Cymru II Fellow at Swansea University. He moved to the Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA, USA) Department of Mechanical Engineering and he earned a PhD in Chemistry from Rice University (Houston, TX, USA).
In his vision to advance global energy security, he uses a circular economy philosophy in his research group, the Energy Futures Research Group at Swansea University. He focuses on valorising plastics to make high-value nanomaterials.
He specialises in the synthesis and applications of carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fibres.
Global energy security is not merely a technical challenge because long term security in a balanced society must also account for the human element, people. All people should have ready access to needed technologies and opportunities to grow and thrive to the best of their human capacity. At the individual level, Alvin works to create an inclusive and dynamic learning environment in his classrooms (in-person and virtual) to ensure the growth of his students to go beyond his teaching. He acts as a Board member of Swansea University’s Black And Majority Ethnic (BAME) Network to instil growth within the University and Academic enterprise; with aims and hopes to bring equal opportunity to all students and staff regardless of their background.
Alvin is also the founder of TrimTabs Ltd., a technology company dedicated to solving global problems with maximum impact. TrimTabs was created to commercialise technology that Alvin developed that can convert plastics into electrical components.
Further updates on his work and impact along with updated CV can be found on a rolling basis at his personal website: http://www.alvinorbaekwhite.com/