Millennium Café

The iSuperSEED team of the Center for Nanoscale Science (Penn State MRSEC) pursues compelling new research opportunities in applying Rules of Life principles to adapt the highly-sophisticated synthesis and assembly machinery of living systems to the production of new symmetry-enabled functional materials that cannot be synthesized or fabricated through conventional engineering methods. The research team will leverage plant biology research of the DOE-funded Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF), which seeks a deeper understanding of the plant cell wall, in part by adapting methods of materials research in service of biology to conversely induce biological systems to create new materials.  As an initial step, the team will utilize genotype and extracellular environment to control the structure, composition, and crystalline order of cellulose across length scales in search of new modes of symmetry-enabled materials response such as piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity, and electro-optic effects.

In collaboration with the Medina Group are examining fundamental roles of glycoproteins in cancer cell biology facilitated by a newly discovered glycan-binding protein (Lectin-1) that kills epithelial cancer cells with unprecedented potency (picomolar concentration). Utilizing chemical biology, evolution, genomics and cancer biology, we are studying the affinity and specificity of this new anti-tumor lectin, as well as selected candidates from a library of novel lectins, toward cancer-associated glycans and characterizing mechanisms of their cytotoxic action.

Jim Marden | Biology / Biomedical Engineering, Scott Medina | Biology / Biomedical Engineering

Understanding the function of bio-systems (e.g., cells and tissues) and their interaction with exogenous compounds requires the ability to visualize spatial distribution of the biomolecules (e.g., lipids, small metabolites) and compounds at subcellular resolution. However, the routine laboratory assays are largely done by bulk analysis on extraction from dissociated cells and tissues, in which the spatial distribution is lost. We have been developing cluster ToF-SIMS to map the chemistry on the frozen-hydrated biological samples with high resolution (< 1µm) and mass range up to m/z 5000. This recent development opens new opportunities for multi-omics, cell heterogeneity and disease mark and target, leading to the further understanding of disease progress and new treatment development.

Hua Tian | Penn State Department of Chemistry

Since 2011 the Morombe Archaeological Project has undertaken archaeological survey, excavation and oral history recording in the Velondriake Marine Protected Area of southwest Madagascar. The project’s aims are to investigate diachronic human-environment dynamics and refine our understanding of the region’s settlement history by leveraging multiple scientific techniques and the collective historical and socio-ecological knowledge base of Velondriake’s living communities. In this presentation I describe the outcomes of the project’s approach to integrate diverse community members and collective knowledge in all aspects of the research and promote this approach as necessary for understanding the region’s rapidly shifting landscapes.

Kristina Douglass | Penn State Department of Anthropology & Institutes of Energy and the Environment

This fall The Millennium Café is asking the question “What if?” as we discuss issues of morals, ethics, and faith in our scientific communities.  

• What if I knew why a researcher was doing her/his/their research?  
• What if my why is where I can communicate with anyone about anything without data? 
• What if leaving out the why, or focusing on specific whys, is where gaps in ethics occur?  

 It’s all good to ask someone “why,” but how often do you ask yourself the same question?  How well do you examine your own attachment to whats, hows, wheres, and whens.  What if “why” is a part of a building process, an architectural design of sorts, that, if invested in intentionally and consciously, offers an intriguing foundation for communication between science and people?  Why is a natural foundation shaker, so let’s start with ourselves. “What do you believe? Why?”, “What are your rules for research? Why?”, “On your best day, or your worst, what do you believe IN? Why?”  BTWs, the why is where morals and ethics live, and if this conversation does not interest you, ask yourself “why.”  What if science, like morals, ethics, and faith, is a belief, a rule, and a way of being.  If so, maybe science can connect to anyone. Why.....not? 

Susan Russell | School of Theatre

Engineers have been solving problems, overcoming threats, and driving progress for over a millennium but with an inward focus on the connection between engineering and technology. To solve today’s challenges, engineers must partner with experts in all disciplines to build human-centric, culturally appropriate, engaged solutions to societal problems. This is a call to action to encourage Penn State engineers to take a leadership role within the engineering community so that, in partnership with all disciplines, humanity can emerge from today’s chaos stronger and prepared for the next 1000 years.