Millennium Café

This talk will put forward a single challenge for materials scientists. How can we build a nanoscale irrigation system from biochar (pyrolyzed biomass) that can be dropped into a hole with every seed and act as a localized water storage and irrigation system. The solution must cost 1/10^th the price of the seed.  Immediately after the talk there will be a brown bag lunch to start working on ideas.  Funding is possible. Scaling your results to millions absolutely guaranteed. Come join the fight against climate change.

David Hughes  |  Entomology

As the human civilization becomes increasingly urban-centric, the vision of smart cities aims to provide better services by optimally using the available resources, minimizing the operational cost, and maximizing the safety and security. In this talk, I will focus on efficient management and cybersecurity of transportation systems in such smart cities – which create unique challenges and opportunities due to the presence of humans in the loop. I will also discuss some of the recent design frameworks explored to counter these challenges and exploit these opportunities.

Spicules, tiny silica strands of marine sponges, have a unique concentric cylindrical structure that shows simultaneous high strength and flexibility. They have a similar architecture to that of human bone which can offer a new generation of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. The spicule-inspired structures can be utilized to simultaneously increase the strength and flexibility of materials with potential applications in various industries.

Memory defines who we are and how we interact with the world, which is why age-related impairments in memory are so devastating.  One reason for age-related memory failure is a disruption in the circadian rhythm, which synchronizes the brain to the external time of day.  Our research shows that the old brain may exist in a persistent “nighttime state” that limits memory formation based on the time of day and correcting this may improve both memory and circadian rhythms in old age.

Presenter: Janine Kwapis  |  Biology

There is an increasing awareness of our carbon footprint as we fight global warming. This talk will highlight ways to reduce carbon emissions as we generate the energy needed for a productive society.  This talk will serve as a brief introduction to a more in-depth discussion on this topic at Materials Day where input will be gathered to shape an interdisciplinary RFP.

Healthcare is being reshaped by the availability of devices that a person can wear to monitor and share vital signs and other indicators of their health. This talk will highlight programs that use IoT and other devices to improve health, healthcare, and wellbeing.  This talk will serve as a brief introduction to a more in-depth discussion on this topic at Materials Day where input will be gathered to shape an interdisciplinary RFP.   
Martin Sliwinski  |  College of Health and Human Development