Forever Chemicals : Foam, Flash, Finish

Abstract

Sepideh Saghafifar was a semi-finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Sepideh presented the research titled “Forever Chemicals: Foam, Flash, Finish.” What if the water you drink contained chemicals designed to resist breakdown for decades? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals," are used in everyday products such as non-stick cookware, waterproof coatings, and firefighting foams. Because of their exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bonds, these compounds persist in water and accumulate in the environment—and even in the human body—raising serious health concerns. This research investigates a new strategy to address this problem: concentrate first, then destroy. Sepideh Saghafifar is completing a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Madjid Mohseni. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.