All Things Bakelite: The Age of Plastic, Screening + Q&A

This joyous and provocative film tells the story of Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland, the “father of modern plastics.” In 1907, he made one of the most transformative discoveries of the 20th century: Bakelite, the world’s first wholly synthetic plastic. His discovery ushered in an explosion of new man-made materials that marked the beginnings of our modern industrial age. Hugh Karraker, Baekeland’s great-grandson, reflecting on the chemist’s discovery, remarked that “his invention had a huge impact on our lives, and his peers were the likes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.”

A Q&A with the filmmakers follows the screening. An exciting Baekeland/Bakelite display of vintage items and family heirlooms will be available for viewing at the event.