'The Plastic Age: How a Miracle Material Reshaped the Modern World' Webinar
Details
Tickets: $18.88 ( incl. $3.88 fees ) (includes access to the full replay for one week)
Click the link below to officially register for this experience:
https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1984484368166
A material once hailed as a miracle invention now surrounds us in nearly every corner of modern life. How did plastic transform the way we manufacture, package, and consume everyday goods — and when did its promise begin to reveal a darker cost? From revolutionary innovation to global environmental challenge, it’s time to uncover the story behind the material that reshaped the modern world.
Join New York Adventure Club as we trace the fascinating rise of plastic — from its early 20th-century invention as a revolutionary new material to its role in shaping modern industry, consumer culture, and today’s environmental debates.
Led by historian Lucy Jane Santos, our unique virtual experience will include:
- An introduction to the earliest plastics, and how their invention revolutionized manufacturing and industry in the early 20th century
- A look at the scientific breakthroughs that paved the way for mass plastic production following World War II
- An overview of plastic’s rise as a symbol of modern progress, transforming industries from medicine and technology to fashion and packaging
- A discussion around the environmental consequences of a global throwaway culture built on plastic convenience
- An exploration of emerging innovations, including recycling technologies and biodegradable alternatives
- What the future might hold, as scientists, policymakers, and industries rethink our relationship with plastic
Afterward, we'll have a Q&A session with Lucy — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!
*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!
About Lucy
Lucy Jane Santos is a writer, presenter and consultant who seeks out the surprising stories that sit at the edges of familiar history. Her work ranges across beauty, science, technology, popular entertainment and nightlife, uncovering fresh angles and new insights into the moments that have shaped the modern world.
This expertise has led to historical consulting roles for film and television and to on-screen contributions in documentaries as seemingly diverse as Makeup: A Glamorous History (BBC2) and Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America (Discovery +). Her research and commentary have also appeared in publications including History Today, BBC History Revealed, Vogue and the New York Post and in the London Transport Museum’s exhibition Art deco: the golden age of poster design.
She has been a judge for the Historical Writers’ Association Non-Fiction Crown, the recipient of the Stephen Joseph Research Award and was the Non-Fiction Writer In Residence for the Stay-at-Home! International Literature Festival. She is a co-founder of the Art Deco Society UK and the Cosmetic History and Makeup Studies Network.
Lucy is the author of the critically acclaimed Half Lives: The Unlikely History of Radium and Chain Reactions: A Hopeful History of Uranium, which explore the unexpected ways radioactivity entered everyday life. Her forthcoming work, Nobody’s Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot, will be published in 2026 to coincide with global celebrations of Marilyn Monroe’s centenary, and uncovers the layered story behind one of Hollywood’s most iconic movies.
Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Photo Credit: Main - Compagnons
Categories: Virtual, Moments in History