Resource Materials

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar the acacia-tree and the myrtle and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane-tree and the larch together; That they may see, and know and consider and understand together, That the hand of the Lord hath done this, ••• Isaiah, 41:19 and 20 (first portion) The need to improve our utilization of the Earth's natural resources is everyone's business, from every country. This book presents papers from all parts of the world on the subject of making new or improved polymers from renewable resources, be they plastics, elastomers, fibers, coatings, or adhesives. In important ways, this book constitutes part II of an edited work published by Plenum Press in 1983, "Polymer Applications of Renewable-Resource Materials. " To that extent, about half of the authors are the same. However, their papers present an update of their research three years later. The other half of the authors are entirely new. Bo~h of these books grew out of symposia sponsored by the Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Division of the American Chemical Society. The papers for the present book are based loosely on a symposium held at the Miami Beach meeting in April, 1985. Unfortunately, interest in polymers from renewable resources fluctuates with the price and availability of petroleum oil. At the time of writing this preface, the price is low, and appears to be headed lower still.

For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, That it will sprout again And that the tender branch Thereof will not cease. Job XIV (7) Mankind has been blessed with a multitude of resources. In the beginning he utilized almost soley replenishable items such as vegetation and animal protein, for both nourishment and shelter. Gradually, such metals as copper and iron were developed and replaced wood as a material of construction. Cement and glass, although more plentiful than other minerals, also replaced the use of growing sub stances. Coal and oil became the primary sources of heat and power. Closer to the focus of this book, petroleum products began to replace the vegetable oils, tannin, wool, cotton, leather, silk, rubber, etc. in a host of applications. Surely, it was argued, the new materials did the job better and cheaper. What they didn't say is that soon we would run out of oil. In any case, research on growing natural products, now called renewable resources, slowed, and these industries sought only to maintain their status quo. The 20th Century saw an unprecedented emphasis and dependence on nonrenewable resources as energy sources (petroleum, coal, ura nium) and the fabric of technology (drugs, clothing, shelter, tires, computer parts). The predawn of the 21st Century brings a reali zation that a cyclic shift back towards the use of renewable re sources for technological application is in order.

'This book competently demonstrates the full potential of effective innovation governance and outlines what Innovation Leaders need to know and do in order to make innovation work.'Howard THOMASProfessor Emeritus of Strategic Management and Management EducationSingapore Management University (SMU)What is innovation and what does it take to make it work? How can innovation management and governance help to create and capture new value towards a sustainable future?This reader contains several 'op-eds' (op-ed = short for 'opposite the editorial page') on innovation management and urban sustainability matters written between 2012 and 2021 for Singapore-based print media aimed at providing interested readers with deeper insights into key enablers of effective innovation governance at corporate levels. The bite-sized commentaries on innovation matters are loosely structured with regards to Leadership & Strategy, People & Organisational Culture, Innovation Processes, Knowledge & Learning as well as Innovation Governance. Besides three case studies of innovation award winners (Singapore Airlines; National Library Board Singapore; Qian Hu Corporation Ltd.), the book also entails reflections about the 'smart city' strategies of Singapore, Berlin (Germany) and Barcelona (Spain) aimed at enhancing sustainability and liveability.This resource book is essential reading for anyone interested in acquiring innovation management and governance know how — from graduate students and advanced undergraduates to innovation practitioners in business and society as well as start-up founders and municipal leaders.