Conference Speakers

Bryan Haynes, Ph.D.

Senior Technical Director, Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corporation

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Haynes received his B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Ph.D.in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. During his graduate studies Dr. Haynes specialized in the aerodynamics and polymer processing of the meltblowing process which was funded by Exxon Chemical Company. He taught full time in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering prior to joining Kimberly-Clark Corporation as a Research Scientist in 1992. While working at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Dr. Haynes has held various positions in research and engineering including an assignment at the Lexington Mill in North Carolina serving as the Technical Team Manager. Dr. Haynes has published several papers and has obtained 44 U.S. Patents and 16 Trade Secrets during his Kimberly-Clark career. He currently holds the position of Senior Technical Director for Global Nonwovens. Prior to his current role he served as the Director of Research and Engineering in Global Nonwovens where his team was responsible for the front-end innovation portfolio and prototyping capabilities including the pilot facilities supporting Kimberly-Clark’s various businesses. Dr. Haynes has received several awards including the Kimberly-Clark Technical Excellence Award, the 2012 Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award from the Society of Women Engineers, and most recently he received the 2017 INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. He is also an Adjunct Professor at The University of Tennessee in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering. He serves on several Industrial Advisory Boards including Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia; and the Nonwovens Institute at N.C. State University. He also serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary for Georgia FIRST which is a non-profit organization that supports STEM programs in Georgia. He is also on the Board of Directors for INDA. Dr. Haynes is married with two daughters.

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Invisible Invasion: The Pervasive Threat of Microplastics

Our world is awash in plastic, and as it breaks down, it creates an invisible threat: microplastics. These tiny fragments, now found in every corner of the planet from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, are infiltrating our ecosystems and bodies at an alarming rate. This talk will explore the latest scientific findings on the widespread impact of microplastics on both wildlife and humans. We will delve into how these particles enter the food chain and the potential health consequences they pose, from developmental issues in marine life to concerns about human respiratory and digestive health. Join us as we uncover the true scale of this pervasive problem and discuss the urgent need for action.