We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julian Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julian below.
Julian, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Earlier this year, February 2024, I took the risk of working on my plastic into fuel innovation full time. Prior to this point, I have been working on the machine for 3 years out of my own pocket right out of high school. I had several successful viral videos online showcasing the device, but had never been paid for them. I was monetized for the first time in February 2024 on tik tok, and made a viral video which paid me quite well. Up until this point, I was purely making ends meet through a secondary handyman business I started. It was a risk to jump into content creation full time, coming from providing a service, which meant money was guaranteed as long as I worked and provided that service. Content creation is quite risky because even in making content, there is no guarantee that it will do well enough to pay your bills. Taking this risk went on to be an amazing decision in my life because the progress I have since made on my innovation has been substantial. In the past 8 months, I have run a vehicle off of my plastic fuel for the first time, designed and constructed my 5th functional prototype, and moved my machine out of my parent’s backyard into a new safe space.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I started working on my first plastic into fuel reactor my senior year of high school. What put me on the path of this innovation was learning about the growing plastic pollution problem, but not hearing any solutions. I was learning welding between junior and senior year, and was also doing research on ways I could recycle plastic at home. After finding out that plastic is made of crude oil, and can be turned back into fuel with a reactor, I decided to build a reactor, putting my welding experience to use. I saw a problem that needed a solution quickly and desperately, and so I jumped right into taking action and being the change I wanted to see when I knew there was something I could do. I self taught myself everything about this technology and the process, utilizing the age of the internet and information to my advantage. Turning plastic to fuel with reactors has been done before, however I have been working to innovate utilizing microwaves to turn plastic into fuel. To date, there is a very niche application of microwave pyrolysis technology at any industrial and continuous operation scales – that is my goal and mission. I am most proud of taking the leap of faith into a innovation that is very dangerous, and doing all of the unseen hardwork and labor necessary to further this technology. I want everyone to know that we are all capable of solving a world problem, no matter the scale. We are all seeds full of potential and amazing feats, but our potential must be watered and fertilized into reality with strong faith, hardwork and perseverance.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
While growing up I was always under the presumption of doing things fast. It is often that in younger life, being fast is rewarded, while taking your time is seen as a negative trait. Stepping into the field of science though, I quickly learned how it is the contrary. In science, moving slower is always better and moving too quickly will often times be to your detriment. This May, 2024, I was severely burned from my plastic into fuel reactor. I was caught in an explosion which left me with 2nd degree burns on my ankles and feet. This accident could have been easily prevented had I slowed down. I was moving quickly in the hopes of appealing to my audiences, and furthering my progress of turning plastic into fuel. It was a tough way to unlearn the lesson of moving too fast, but it is a valuable trait to learn and I have no regrets.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
In the field of pyrolysis, most companies focus primarily on keeping their work a secret until it is ready to be released. In my case with Naturejab, I have been openly documenting and sharing my process online with people throughout it’s entire prototyping. I believe that doing this has helped with my reputation because it allows the people to be apart of my journey, and it establishes my roots as a company that cares about the Earth and the public. Along this journey, I have utilized people’s advice and opinions to improve my process. My Audience has shared problems and their solutions, and everything in between. This approach builds a level of humanity within my company that otherwise would be extremely difficult to build.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Naturejab.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/naturejab_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturejab1/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-brown-a51786225?trk=org-employees
- Twitter: https://x.com/Naturejab?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@naturejab/videos
