In this chat, Eleftheria Roumeli, an assistant professor at the University of Washington, delves into the fascinating world of biomatter and sustainable polymers. She shares how 'gross' bacteria from fish tanks can transform into strong plastic shapes and discusses foraging for seaweed to source biological materials. The conversation also touches on the environmental impact of these innovative plastics and the importance of sustainability in materials science. Eleftheria's insights illuminate the promising future of bioengineering in the realm of materials.