Professor Subra Suresh introduces Materials Today's inaugural Materials in Society lectures.From construction and electronics, through to energy and medicine; materials science and engineering has made significant and enduring contributions to the lives of every human being. It's an open secret in academia and industry, but is the public aware of the role materials science has in shaping the world? Who are these people working to provide clean energy, build smarter homes, repair our bodies, not to mention upgrade our smart phones?
Materials Today is highlighting the impact materials science has on our everyday lives in a series of online lectures that everyone can access, understand and appreciate. The Materials Today Materials in Society lecture series will reveal how materials science is tackling some of the world's biggest issues and explore the huge improvements the applications of research make to the way we live and work today.
Previous lectures:
Prof Molly Stevens, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
“Tissue engineering: latest advances in materials science”
Highlighting novel approaches to the use of materials science in tissue engineering that are likely to prove very powerful in the engineering of tissues ranging from bone to cardiac tissue.
Prof Jay Whitacre, Carnegie Mellon University, United States
“Innovating With Materials for Energy Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities”
Focusing on energy storage materials to address some universal themes covering the difficulties and opportunities that come with trying to create and bring new kinds of functional materials to the market.
Prof Bin Liu, National University of Singapore, Singapore
"The Wonderful World of AIEgens: Respect nature, influence future"
The weak emission of AIE fluorogens (AIEgens) as molecular species and their bright fluorescence as nanoscopic aggregates distinguish them from conventional organic luminophores and inorganic nanoparticles, making them ideal candidates for high-tech applications in electronic, environmental and biomedical applications.
Prof Volker Presser, Universität des Saarlandes, Germany
"Carbon and carbon hybrid materials for electrochemical desalination"
One of the most exciting and pressing areas in which materials science could solve a critical global problem is in the area of desalination. As climate change and other factors begin to impinge even more on fresh water supplies and environmental pressures marginalize vulnerable communities particularly in remote parts of the world and in the developing world, desalination is becoming increasingly important. In this lecture, Prof Volker Presser explores why we need carbon materials to help us design cost-efficient and sustainable desalination technologies.
Prof Linda Nazar, University of Waterloo, Canada
"Unravelling the Complexities of Electrochemical Energy Storage at the Nanoscale"
The lecture covers how electrochemical energy storage is a key component of creating a sustainable energy system for our future. The focus of the lecture is on the novel materials, designs and devices needed in battery technology.
Presented in 2018 at the 29th International conference on Diamond and Carbon Materials:
Dr David Simpson, University of Melbourne, Australia
"Diamond Quantum Probes for Bio-Sensing and Imaging"
Dr David Simpson, University of Melbourne, Australia, presented a Materials in Society Lecture at the 29th International Conference on Diamond and Carbon Materials in 2018. The title of his talk was Diamond quantum probes for bio-sensing and imaging.
Presented in 2018 at the 14th International Conference on Nanostructured Materials (Nano 2018):
Professor Subra Suresh, President of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore?
"Mechanical and functional characteristics unique to nanostructures"
Professor Subra Suresh, President of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, highlights characteristics that are unique to nanostructures at the nanoscale, mechanisms that are only activated at the nanoscale, and shows how nanoscale features can play an important role in disease diagnostics, precision medicine and liquid biopsy.
Upcoming lectures: