Magwood : turning wood into a magnetic shield for modern tech

Akash Madhav Gondaliya was a finalist in the 2025 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Akash presented their research, “Magwood: Turning Wood into a Magnetic Shield for Modern Tech.” Akash’s research is about creating Magwood, a sustainable material made from carbonized wood that can block electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can mess with medical devices and even impact health. The next step is to make Magwood even better by having it absorb EMI instead of just reflecting it, offering a cleaner solution for both people and the planet. Akash Madhav Gondaliya is completing their PhD in Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering under the supervision of E. Johan Foster.