Sustainable Nano

Season 7 Preview

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +0000

It's the 7th season of the Sustainable Nano Podcast! Here's a quick preview of the three episodes of this final mini-season, including interviews with Dr. Della Mosley, Maureen Ryan, and Dr. Bob Hamers & Dr. Christy Haynes.

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or other podcast apps.

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Related links:

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-2001611. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Ep 45. The World is Really Ready for Change

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause) — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:00:00 +0000

Professor Mike Curry of the North Carolina Agricultural & Technological State University (NCAT) is a scientist, inventor, mentor, and advocate with a passion for bringing attention to the great research that happens at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). In this episode we share an interview between Dr. Curry and Dr. Bob Hamers, Director of the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, discussing Dr. Curry's nanocellulose research and the process of bringing HBCUs and Primarily White Institutions (PWIs) together for meaningful collaboration.

image shows Mike Curry (above) and Bob Hamers (below) during their Zoom call to record this interview

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Overcast, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Related links:

Mike Curry: CSN profile, LinkedIn
Bob Hamers: CSN profile, Lab website
Accounts of Chemical Research: Special Issue on Advancing Research at HBCUs
NCAT Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering,
Podcast episode 12: Making Sustainable Nanoparticles from Plants with Mike Curry
Podcast episode 7: What Do Glaciers Have to Do with Nanoscience? with Bob Hamers
CSN & Curry group alum Dr. Donald White
Binghamton University Emerging Science & Technology Summit
NSF Ideas Lab: Advancing Research Capacity at HBCUs through Exploration and Innovation (ARC-HBCU)
Recent patent: High-throughput synthesis of metallic nanoparticles
The NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Mike Curry

Interviewer: Bob Hamers

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 44. Part of Something Bigger: Social Media, Mentoring, & Friendship with Stuart Cantrill

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause) — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:30:00 +0000

Early in the COVID pandemic, then-graduate student Safia Jilani became Twitter buddies with the Chief Editor of the prestigious journal Nature Chemistry, Dr. Stuart Cantrill. Dr. Jilani is now a Postdoctoral Fellow with the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and Dr. Cantrill is now the Editorial Director for all of Nature's physics and chemistry journals... and they finally got the chance to meet in person last month! In this episode we bring you a conversation between these two chemists about the power and challenges of social media, the importance of mentorship, and being open to unforeseen career paths.

image shows Stuart Cantrill (left) and Safia Jilani (right) enjoying ice cream in Cambridge

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Related links:

Stuart Cantrill: blog, BlueSky
Safia Jilani: website, BlueSky
Nature Chemistry: website, Twitter
Nature Nanotechnology: website, Twitter
A Review and Critique of Academic Lab safety research by Dana Ménard and John F. Trant. Nature Chemistry 2020, 12, 17-25.
The race to the bottom and the route to the top by Dave K. Smith. Nature Chemistry 2020, 12, 101-103. (Professor_Dave on Twitter)
A Diverse View of Science to Catalyse Change by César A. Urbina-Blanco, Safia Z. Jilani_,_ Isaiah R. Speight, Michael J. Bojdys, Tomislav Friščić, J. Fraser Stoddart, and colleagues. Nature Chemistry 2020, 12, 773-776 (note: this editorial was also co-published in 5 additional journals)
Ternary CoPtAu Nanoparticles as a General Catalyst for Highly Efficient Electro-Oxidation of Liquid Fuels by Junrui Li, Safia Jilani, & Colleagues. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2019, 11527-11533.
Other folks mentioned in this episode: Junrui Li, Michelle Muzzio, RealTimeChem and Jason Woolford, Martin Stoermer, American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, BlackinChem, ChemJobber
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Stuart Cantrill

Interviewer: Safia Jilani

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 43. Revolutionizing How we Grow, Distribute, & Store Food: Revisiting the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause, Jason White, Beza Tuga) — Tue, 7 Nov 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Five years after our first interview, we catch up with Dr. Jason White about chemistry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and how nanoscience can benefit agriculture and global food security. Graduate student Beza Tuga interviews Jason about his new role as Director of CAES and exciting research collaborations between CAES and the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.

image shows Beza Tuga (left) and the CSN team in Jason's office (L-R Jason White, Cheng-Hsin Huang, Wilanyi Alvarez Reyes, Beza Tuga, & Chaoyi Deng)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Related links:

Jason White: website
Beza Tuga: website, Twitter
Interview from 2017: Ep 17. Putting Science to Work for Society: A Visit to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Podcast episode with Dr. Wade Elmer: Ep 25. Finding the Next Fix for the World's Problems: More from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Sustainable Nano blog post by CAES postdoc Dr. Yu Shen: Nanotechnology and Modern Agriculture
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station podcast: Coast & Country
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Report: The State of Food and Agriculture 2022
Undark magazine: In Connecticut, a Nanoscale Agricultural Experiment With Global Potential by Jan Ellen Spiegel
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Jason White

Interviewer: Beza Tuga

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 42. Why We All Feel So Terrible And What to Do About It

mkrause@umn.edu (Kaz Nelson, Jack Rahill, Miriam Krause) — Mon, 3 Jul 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Mental Health Awareness Month was back in May, but it's never too late to talk about mental health and strategies for taking care of ourselves during difficult times. In this episode we share a discussion with psychiatrist Dr. Kaz Nelson called "Why we all feel so terrible and what to do about it."

image shows a profile photo of Dr. Nelson

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Related links:

Interviewee: Kaz Nelson

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Editor: Jack Rahill

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

figure by by Nathalie Martinek with Khurram Jahangir. Model originally adapted by Eva Migdal

Season 6 Trailer

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause, Jack Rahill) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 21:05:00 +0000

We've got a great set of episodes for Season 6 following our themes of Nanotechnology, Sustainability, and Life in Science. Interviews include the founders of @BlackinNanotech, Dr. Olivia Geneus and Jarriaun Streets; materials scientist Dr. Suveen Mathaudhu; and psychiatrist Dr. Kaz Nelson, plus others! Subscribe now so you won't miss an episode.

Ep 41. Stronger, Tougher, Lighter

mkrause@umn.edu (Suveen Mathaudhu, Jack Rahill, Miriam Krause) — Wed, 8 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000

What do nanotechnology, blacksmithing, and Star Wars have in common? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Suveen Mathaudhu about a range of topics from medical applications of materials science to metallurgy in The Mandalorian.

Zoom screen shot of Dr. Mathaudhu showing off his Armorer action figure (complete with her blacksmithing tools)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Related links:

Suveen Mathaudhu: website, Twitter
This is the Way: Tracing the Path between Damascus Steel and Beskar by Suveen N. Mathaudhu, Eric M. Taleff, & Jeffrey Wadsworth. 2022, JOM 74, 4466-4478
Scale of Scientific Monsters
Podcast episode: Ep 4. Nano Superheros: At the Interface of Art and Science
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Suveen Mathaudhu

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Editor: Jack Rahill

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 40. This Is the Future

mkrause@umn.edu (Beza Tuga) — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 17:46:21 +0000

It's the first episode of season 6! Come for the nanopharmacology, stay for the robotics and fun with Twitter networking. In this episode, we interview Olivia Geneus and Jarriaun Streets about founding #BlackinNanotech, how they got into science, and the challenges of communicating about nanotechnology.

Black in Nanotech founders Olivia Geneus (left) and Jarriaun Streets (right), along with the #BlackInNano logo

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Related links:

Olivia Geneus: LinkedIn, Twitter, Physics World profile
Jarriaun Streets: LinkedIn, The Science Talk video interview
Beza Tuga: website, Twitter
Black in Nanotech: website, Twitter,Instagram
EMOHAITI: website, Instagram
Hopital Bernard Mevs & Project Medishare Haiti Relief: GoFundMe
Black in Chemistry: website, Twitter, Instagram
Black in X: website,
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewees: Jarriaun Streets & Olivia Geneus

Interviewer: Beza Tuga

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 39. Retelling a Story Through Illustrations: Lifeology Part 2

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:21:39 +0000

How do you explain sustainable nanotechnology using art? Last fall the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology collaborated with Lifeology, an online platform that connects scientists and artists, to create a public-friendly "mini-course" called "What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?". On this episode of the podcast, CSN graduate students and course co-authors Stephanie Mitchell and Paige Kinsley talk with artist Elfy Chiang about her journey as an artist, working with scientists, and the excitement that can happen when collaborators surprise each other.

Artist Elfy Chiang (top left) and interviewers Paige Kinsley (top right) and Stephanie Mitchell (bottom) along with two examples of Elfy's artwork from "What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?"

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Cartoon nanoparticle from the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology's Lifeology course, "What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?" (image by Elfy Chiang)

Related links:

Elfy Chiang: Elfyland Studios website, Twitter, Instagram
Lifeology: homepage, What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?
Paige Kinsley: website, Twitter
Stephanie Mitchell: website, Twitter
Blog post Why shouldn't we toss Lithium ion batteries in the trash? by Merve Doğangün
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Elfy Chiang

Interviewers: Stephanie Mitchell & Paige Kinsley

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 38. Beyond Jargon to Empathy: Lifeology Part 1

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 20:34:25 +0000

How do you explain sustainable nanotechnology in text shorter than a tweet? This fall the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology collaborated with Lifeology, an online platform that connects scientists and artists, to create a public-friendly "mini-course" called "What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?". On this episode of the podcast, CSN graduate students and course co-authors Jaya Borgatta and Stephanie Mitchell talk with Lifeology co-founder Paige Jarreau about Lifeology, her journey to becoming a professional science communicator, and the importance of empathy in achieving accessible communication.

Paige Jarreau is the co-founder of Lifeology)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Cartoon nanoparticle from the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology's Lifeology course, "What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?" (image by Elfy Chiang)

Related links:

Paige Jarreau: blog, Twitter, [Instagram] (https://www.instagram.com/SciCommNerd/)
Lifeology: homepage, What happens to nanoparticles in the environment?
Jaya Borgatta: website, Wednesday Nite @ the Lab video interview
Stephanie Mitchell: website, Twitter
Blog post Why shouldn't we toss Lithium ion batteries in the trash? by Merve Doğangün
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Paige Jarreau

Interviewers: Stephanie Mitchell & Jaya Borgatta

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 37. Shine Bright like a Diamond... Inside of a Worm

mkrause@umn.edu (Zack Jones, Paige Kinsley) — Tue, 6 Oct 2020 20:46:03 +0000

Zach Jones, a graduate student in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, gives diamonds to his study organism. But they're nanodiamonds, not jewelry, and after the tiny worms eat them, Zack uses their fluorescent and magnetic properties to see where the material accumulates within the worm's body. This episode talks about worms, defective diamonds, and how the combination of the two can provide information on environmental contamination.

Zack Jones (left) and Paige Kinsley (right) recording this episode's interview (photos courtesy of Zack Jones and Paige Kinsley)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Diagram of a nanodiamond molecule showing a nitrogen vacancy center defect (missing nitrogen atom) in the middle (image by Zack Jones)

Related links:

Paige Kinsley: website, Twitter
Zack Jones: website, Twitter
2020 MacArthur Fellows;
- NK Jemisin; The Fifth Season
- Paul Dauenhauer; podcast ep 14. What does nanotechnology have to do with renewable car tires?
Podcast ep 24. Using MRI technology to study nanoparticles
Quantum sensing; quantum communication
Wisconsin Science Festival
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Zack Jones

Interviewer: Paige Kinsley

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Assistant Producer: Emma Bublitz

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 36. "Yes, and...": A Guide to Effective Science Communication Using Improvisation

mkrause@umn.edu (Liz Laudadio, Paige Kinsley, Stephanie Mitchell) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 16:50:54 +0000

Science communication takes a lot of different forms, including improvisation. In this episode, we interview Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology graduate student Paige Kinsley and alum Liz Laudadio. The episode dives deep into the life skills you can learn from doing improv, how it can make you a better listener, and how it relates to science storytelling. Not to mention the benefits of finding hobbies to do with your labmates.

(Paige Kinsley (left) and Liz Laudadio (right), mid-improv performance and recording this episode's interview, along with Blue the cat. (photos courtesy of Liz Laudadio & Paige Kinsley)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, or listen on NSF's Science Zone Radio.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Liz Laudadio: website, Twitter
Paige Kinsley: website, Twitter
Atlas Theater Company
Minh Tam Hoang's blog post: coming soon!
Article about summer undergraduate programs: COVID-19 shakes up summer internship and research opportunities
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
Argonne National Laboratory

Interviewees: Liz Laudadio & Paige Kinsley

Interviewer/Editor: Stephanie Mitchell

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Assistant Producer: Emma Bublitz

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Ep. 35 Photographing the Unphotographable

Fri, 8 May 2020 17:28:23 +0000

How do you photograph the unphotographable? In this episode we interview MIT research scientist Felice Frankel, who specializes in visualizing science, using pictures to draw audiences in and help scientists more deeply examine their own work, including nanoscale materials that are smaller than wavelengths of light! We also have a mini-interview with graduate student Paige Kinsley about how COVID-19 is affecting chemistry labs in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.

(photos by Miriam Krause)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Felice Frankel
Books: Modern Landscape Architecture, Picturing Science & Engineering, No Small Matter
Stephen J. Gould; E.O. Wilson; George Whitesides; Don Eigler
Sustainable Nano blog posts: Ferrofluid, gold color & surface plasmon resonance
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewees: Felice Frankel & Paige Kinsley

Interviewer: Stephanie Mitchell

Editor: Natalie Hudson-Smith

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep. 34 Winter Holiday Mini-Episode: Colorful Carbon Dots

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:04:08 +0000

Winter can get pretty dark, especially in northern latitudes, and many cultures have winter holidays that feature and celebrate lights. For our last episode of 2019 we decided to talk about the bright and colorful chemistry of carbon dots! In this mini episode we interview Dr. Christy Haynes, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota and Associate Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.

Left: Dr. Christy Haynes. Right: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of malic acid carbon dots with an inset photo of the carbon dots in aqueous solution and illuminated by 365 nm UV (carbon dot image by Bo Zhi)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Christy Haynes: website, Twitter
Sustainable Nano blog post: Have you ever seen colorful "carbon"?
Pham, S. et al. Carbon Dots: A Modular Activity To Teach Fluorescence and Nanotechnology at Multiple Levels. Journal of Chemical Education, 2017. 94(8) 1143-1149. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00995
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Christy Haynes

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep. 33 It Just Didn't Feel Like Me: Belonging and Sexism in Science

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 22:12:41 +0000

How often do college women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) experience sexism? And how do these experiences affect their likelihood of staying in scientific fields? In this episode we talk with Majel Baker, a counseling psychologist who investigated these questions in her doctoral dissertation. Spoiler alert: sexism is bad. But there are ways we can work to improve the situation. Plus, we have a mini-interview about what this year's chemistry Nobel prize had to do with sustainable nanotechnology.

(photo courtesy of Majel Baker)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Majel Baker: website, Twitter
- articles coming soon (links will be added when available): Daily Sexism Experienced by Women in STEM Majors; The power of peers: Correlates of classroom climate in undergraduate women in STEM
Natalie Hudson-Smith: website, Twitter
National Academies Report: Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018)
Cheryan, et al. Why are some STEM fields more gender balanced than others? Psychological Bulletin, 2017, 143(1) 1-35.
Grogan, K. How the entire scientific community can confront gender bias in the workplace. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2019, 3,3-6.
Pollack, E. What really keep women out of tech. New York Times, Oct 10, 2015.
Rogers, M. STEM-ming the Tide. Inside Higher Ed, Nov 27, 2013.
Resources about gender: Planned Parenthood - Sexual Orientation and Gender; GLAAD Glossary of Terms - Transgender; The Trevor Project - Trans + Gender Identity
Liz Laudadio: website
2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Sustainable Nano blog posts:
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewees: Majel Baker & Liz Laudadio

Interviewer: Natalie Hudson-Smith

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Note: This episode description was edited on Nov 27, 2019 to reflect the fact that Majel Baker has not yet received her PhD. Although she has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, we're still not allowed to call her "Dr. Baker" quite yet.

Ep 32. An Electronic Circuit on Every Seed?

mkrause@umn.edu (Mike Filler, Miriam Krause, Natalie Hudson-Smith) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:38:43 +0000

What if every seed you planted could include a sensor to monitor moisture and nutrients? What if every tissue had nanoscale electronics to check for viruses when you blew your nose? Our fourth season launches with an interview about the future of nanotransistor technology with Professor Mike Filler from Georgia Tech. We also begin our new series of timely mini-interviews with a quick conversation about "necrochemistry" in honor of Halloween.

Prof. Michael Filler (left, photo courtesy of Dr. Filler) and his Nanovation Podcast

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Prof. Mike Filler: website, Twitter
Nanovation Podcast
Moore's Law
- Moore’s Law Is Dead. Now What? by Tim Simonite in MIT Technology Review, 2016.
Prof. Kira Barton
Prof. Bob Hamers (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Director)
Natalie Hudson-Smith: website, Twitter
Ask A Mortician YouTube Channel
The Order of the Good Death
The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewees: Mike Filler & Natalie Hudson-Smith

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Season 4 Preview

mkrause@umn.edu (Miriam Krause) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 20:01:07 +0000

We've got a great lineup of episodes taking shape for this year on our themes of Nanotechnology, Sustainability, and Life in Science. Interviews include Prof. Mike Filler talking about nanowires and his podcast Nanovation, Majel Baker discussing the effects of sexism in science, Felice Frankel talking about visual communication for nanoscience, and that's only the beginning. Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode!

Ep 31. Jumping Asteroid Clouds: Supporting Vulnerable Learners in Educational Achievement

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 20:40:00 +0000

Last November, Dr. Cat Hicks wrote an essay on Medium called "Reading vulnerable learners' applications to grad school: we need to stop failing them." In this episode of the podcast, University of Minnesota graduate student Becky Rodriguez interviews Dr. Hicks about her essay, her educational and career path, and how our educational system can be stacked against vulnerable learners. She offers some advice for applicants, those who review applications, and others who may just want to help. "A truly inclusive and diverse future will produce way better work, and you only get there by saying, 'we have to be comfortable with letting people be different.'" Our conversation is especially relevant given recent news and discussion about unfairness and fraud in U.S. college admissions. (And if you want to know what any of this has to do with asteroid fields, you'll just have to listen to the episode.)

Dr. Cat Hicks (left, photo courtesy of Dr. Hicks) and a tweet about her Medium essay on helping students with grad school applications

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Cat Hicks: website, Twitter
Reading vulnerable learners’ applications to grad school: we need to stop failing them by Cat Hicks, Medium, Nov 17, 2018
Becky Rodriguez: profile and Twitter
Elite Colleges Constantly Tell Low-Income Students That They Do Not Belong by Clint Smith, The Atlantic, March 18, 2019
The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon by Alvin Chang, Vox.com, updated Sept 12, 2018.
Scott Klemmer, Chinmay Kulkarni, PeerStudio
- Framing feedback: Choosing review environment features that support high quality peer assessment by C. Hicks et al. 201. doi: 10.1145/2858036.2858195
- PeerStudio: rapid peer feedback emphasizes revision and improves performance by Kulkarni et al. 2015. doi: 10.1145/2724660.2724670
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Cat Hicks

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Interviewer: Becky Rodriguez

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 30. Nanocomposites: Getting the Best of Two Worlds

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 16:00:00 +0000

What could be cooler than a technology that uses nanomaterials? How about one that combines two nanomaterials! Nanocomposites bring together two or more nanoscale materials to take advantage of their combined features to get what Dr. Klaus Müllen calls "the best out of two worlds." Dr. Müllen is an emeritus director at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, where his work ranges from the chemistry and physics of small molecules to nanocomposites and biosynthetic hybrids. In this interview he talks about how a fascination with color got him into chemistry, some of the many technological applications for nanocomposites, and some candid advice for young scientists.

(L-R) Stephanie Mitchell, Dr. Klaus Müllen, and Andrew Northwick after their interview

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Klaus Müllen
AAAS and 2019 Annual Meeting
AAAS Communicating Science Seminar
For more on polymers and monomers, see this Sustainable Nano blog post
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Klaus Müllen

Interviewers: Stephanie Mitchell & Andrew Northwick

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 29. Green is the Color of Chemistry

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Wed, 9 Jan 2019 16:30:00 +0000

Dr. Mary Kirchhoff is Executive Vice President of Scientific Advancement at the American Chemical Society and Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. Her career has spanned a variety of experiences related to sustainability in chemistry, including working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's green chemistry program and co-editing a book on Greener Approaches to Undergraduate Chemistry Experiments. In this episode, Dr. Kirchhoff shares insights and examples on the importance of green chemistry with two graduate student interviewers from the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.

Dr. Mary Kirchhoff, Executive Vice President of Scientific Advancement at ACS (left); green chemistry image by IO-images

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Interviewee: Mary Kirchhoff

Interviewers: Stephanie Mitchell & Peter Clement

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Editor: Alicia McGeachy

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 28. Who's Not In the Room and Why Not? Inclusivity and Bias Across Class Backgrounds in College Education

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:50:00 +0000

Alvin Chang, Senior Graphics Reporter for Vox, wrote and illustrated an article last year called "The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon." In this episode of the podcast, we share the audio of a webinar that Chang presented for the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology about his work. He tackles challenging issues of class, bias, and educational attainment using clear illustrations (verbal as well as visual) and simple analogies that are relevant far beyond the world of academic science.

Alvin Chang, Senior Graphics Reporter for Vox (left, courtesy of Alvin Chang) and one of his illustrations for "The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon" (right, used with permission from Vox.com)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Alvin Chang: website, Twitter
The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon. Vox.com, updated Sept 12, 2018.
Money, Race and Success: How Your School District Compares. By Motoko Rich, Amanda Cox, and Matthew Bloch, The New York Times, April 29, 2016.
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Alvin Chang

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Audience Questions: Peter Clement, Nicholas Niemuth, Becky Rodriguez, & Rigoberto Hernandez

Editor: Alicia McGeachy

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 27. The Constant Loop: How Nanoparticles and the Environment Affect Each Other

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 2 Nov 2018 15:00:00 +0000

Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) is an important nanomaterial used in batteries, but little is known about what happens when it gets exposed to the environment. In this episode we interview Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology graduate student Liz Laudadio, who was the first author on a recent paper about what happens to LCO when it gets exposed to phosphates in water. We discuss why phosphates are important and next steps to understanding potential environmental impacts of nanomaterials: "It's a constant loop of, How do nanoparticles affect the environment? How does the environment affect nanoparticles?"

Left: Liz Laudadio working with an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), which was used in this study to quantify how much phosphate adsorbed to LCO nanoparticles. Center/Right: Transmission Electron Microscope images of LCO nanosheets (from Laudadio et al. 2018, used with permission from the American Chemical Society)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Liz Laudadio
Laudadio, L., Bennett, J., Green, C., Mason, S., & Hamers, R. Impact of Phosphate Adsorption on Complex Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticle Dispersibility in Aqueous Media. Environmental Science & Technology 2018, 52 (17), pp 10186–10195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02324
Mason Lab
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Liz Laudadio

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 26. Nanomaterials and Renewable Energy: From Solar Panels to Machine Learning

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +0000

How are photons like toddlers? And what does that have to do with solar energy? Dr. Jillian Buriak has been researching nanomaterials and renewable energy for over a decade, including work to improve solar panel technology. In this first episode of the Sustainable Nano Podcast's third season, we interview Dr. Buriak, who is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alberta and Canada Research Chair of Nanomaterials for Energy, about her research, career path, and even some advice for junior scientists.

Dr. Jillian Buriak (left) and the cover illustration of single-crystal nickel−iron oxide nanoparticles of different shapes, based on an article from her lab (right, from Bao et al. 2014. (used with permission from the American Chemical Society)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Jillian Buriak: lab page and Twitter
Canada Research Chair in Nanomaterials
Covestro Lectureship
Bau et al. Nickel/Iron Oxide Nanocrystals with a Nonequilibrium Phase: Controlling Size, Shape, and Composition. Chemistry of Materials 2014, 26 (16), 4796-4804. DOI: 10.1021/cm501881a
Center for Sustainable Polymers
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Dr. Jillian Buriak

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Editor: Alicia McGeachy

Music: PC III

Season 3 Preview

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 9 Oct 2018 19:00:00 +0000

It's Season 3 of the Sustainable Nano Podcast! Here's a quick preview of a few of our upcoming episodes, including interviews with Dr. Mary Kirchhoff, Alvin Chang, & Dr. Jillian Buriak.

Sustainable Nano Season 3 is on the way!

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: PC III

Ep 25. Finding the Next Fix for the World's Problems: More from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:30:00 +0000

In the second interview from our visit to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, graduate students Natalie Hudson-Smith and Jaya Borgatta interview Dr. Wade Elmer, Chief Scientist for the Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology. They discuss everything from everyday garden fertilizers to cutting-edge nanoparticle experiments on watermelon.

Dr. Wade Elmer with eggplant seedlings at the Connecticut Agricultural Research Station. (image by Jan Ellen Spiegel, used with permission from Undark Magazine)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Wade Elmer
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Undark magazine: In Connecticut, a Nanoscale Agricultural Experiment With Global Potential by Jan Ellen Spiegel
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Dr. Wade Elmer

Interviewers: Natalie Hudson-Smith and Jaya Borgatta

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 24. Using MRI technology to study nanoparticles

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:32:00 +0000

How do we "see" nanoparticles when they're too small to view with a normal microscope? In this episode we interview Kelly Zhang, a graduate student in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology who recently published a paper about a new way to use NMR technology (like MRI for chemistry) to study the behavior of molecules that form a shell on diamond nanoparticles. We also talk about how watching anime as a kid inspired Kelly to become a chemist.

Kelly Zhang and a model of a polymer-wrapped diamond nanoparticle like the ones studied in her recent article (image adapted courtesy of Author Choice license from the American Chemical Society)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, on spotify, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Kelly Zhang
Zhang Y., Fry C., Pedersen J., & Hamers R. Dynamics and Morphology of Nanoparticle-Linked Polymers Elucidated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Analytical Chemistry, 2017, 89(22) 12399-12407. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03489
Anime series Case Closed and character Shiho Miyano
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Kelly Zhang

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa and Dexter Britain

Ep 23. From Worm Genetics to Chocolate Cake: Art and Science with Dr. Ahna Skop

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Thu, 8 Feb 2018 21:30:00 +0000

What does food blogging have to do with genetics research? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ahna Skop, an associate professor of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about how art, science, and cooking intersect, as well as some of the benefits and challenges she has experienced being dyslexic.

Artwork depicting C. Elegans (left) and a cake showing cell division (right) (images courtesy of Ahna Skop)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

C. Elegans artwork in the style of Miro (image courtesy of Ahna Skop)

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Ahna Skop - Skop Lab page, Foodskop blog, Twitter, video of NAS Colloquium talk
C. Elegans
Smitten Kitchen food blog
Dr. Skop's Mapo Tofu recipe
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Dr. Ahna Skop

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 22. On Thin Films and Nobel Prizes: Margaret Schott Profiles Katharine Burr Blodgett

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 16:30:00 +0000

At last summer's American Chemical Society national meeting, Dr. Margaret Schott of Northwestern University took the unusual step of giving her history division presentation as her subject, Dr. Katharine Burr Blodgett. In this episode we interview Dr. Schott about her own path in life and chemistry, as well as that of Dr. Blodgett, including the debate about whether this pioneer of thin film technology was overlooked for a Nobel Prize.

(Katharine Burr Blodgett (left, image from the Smithsonian) and Margaret Schott (right, image from Northwestern University))

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Margaret Schott
Dr. Katharine Burr Blodgett
American Chemical Society Division of the History of Chemistry
Profile of Sir Fraser Stoddart
Dr. Irving Langmuir
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Dr. Margaret Schott

Interviewer: Liz Laudadio

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 21. Quantifying Effects of Gender Bias: There's an App for That

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 18:30:00 +0000

Does gender bias matter? You can see for yourself thanks to an interactive app created by software engineer Penelope Hill at doesgenderbiasmatter.com. In this episode, we interview Penelope about what prompted her to create the app, some of the research behind it, and a few of the ways people in science and technology fields are working to overcome bias.

(Penelope Hill is the software engineer behind doesgenderbiasmatter.com.)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Penelope Hill on LinkedIn and Twitter
Does Gender Bias Matter? App
"Melinda Gates: The Tech Industry Needs to Fix Its Gender Problem—Now" by Gillian White in The Atlantic
"White House women want to be in the room where it happens" by Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post
Avoiding Gender Bias in Reference Writing ASU handout
Small Pond Science blog post by Terry McGlynn about the gender bias in a recent list of 100 most important papers in ecology

Interviewee: Penelope Hill

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep. 20 Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland and the Definition of Sustainability

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 3 Nov 2017 20:50:00 +0000

What does "sustainability" mean? Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland is famous for serving three terms as the Prime Minister of Norway and chairing the World Commission on Environment and Development -- the Brundtland Commission -- which defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." In this episode we discuss Dr. Brundtland's autobiography, Madam Prime Minister, her life and accomplishments, and her contribution to our modern understanding of sustainability.

(Dr. Brundtland at a conference in 2014 (image by Luiz Munhoz))

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future (1987)
Madam Prime Minister - autobiography by Gro Harlem Brundtland (2002)
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Liz Laudadio

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep. 19 Scientists and Impostor Syndrome: Can We Do Anything About It?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 19:45:00 +0000

You may have heard of "impostor syndrome" or "imposter phenomenon," when perfectly competent people have the feeling that they don't belong or are faking it in their professional lives. It can lead sufferers to hold back their ideas and self-reject from opportunities, and it is surprisingly common among high-achieving people. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Valerie Young, an expert on impostor syndrome with both research and personal experience. She discusses one common factor across all people who experience impostor syndrome, and three things you can do about it if you experience the phenomenon yourself.

(Dr. Valerie Young is an expert on imposter syndrome and an award-winning author.)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Valerie Young on Twitter @ValerieYoung
Dr. Young's Impostor Syndrome website
Princeton professor's CV of failures
"The Fraud Police" commencement speech at the New England Institute of Arts by Amanda Palmer, 2011

Interviewee: Dr. Valerie Young

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 18. Why Do We Care About Emerging Contaminants?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Thu, 5 Oct 2017 16:00:00 +0000

As the Director of the Great Lakes Genomics Center in the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Professor Rebecca Klaper researches emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials and pharmaceuticals and how they affect freshwater organisms. In this episode we interview Dr. Klaper about the future of emerging contaminants and how her work relates to the development of sustainable nanomaterials.

(L: Rebecca Klaper is the Director of the Great Lakes Genomics Center in the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. R: Zebrafish are often used in toxicology research (image from Oregon State University.)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Interviewee: Professor Rebecca Klaper

Interviewers: Natalie Hudson-Smith and Jaya Borgatta

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 17. Putting Science to Work for Society: A Visit to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 14:00:00 +0000

Chemistry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station ranges from testing how nanoparticles help plants grow to determining what kind of poison was placed in someone's coffee. In this episode, we interview Dr. Jason White, Vice Director of Analytical Chemistry at the CAES and our newest collaborator in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.

(Dr. Jason White planting eggplants at the Connecticut Agricultural Research Station. (image by Jan Ellen Spiegel, used with permission from Undark Magazine))

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Jason White
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Undark magazine: In Connecticut, a Nanoscale Agricultural Experiment With Global Potential by Jan Ellen Spiegel
Michael Crichton's novel Prey
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Dr. Jason White

Interviewers: Natalie Hudson-Smith and Jaya Borgatta

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa and Dexter Britain

Ep 16. Maybe Not the Next Industrial Revolution? Societal & Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 19 May 2017 19:44:00 +0000

A lot has changed in the last 10-15 years about our hopes and fears around nanotechnology. Ira Bennett and Jameson Wetmore are professors in the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University, and in this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast we interview them about the complexities of understanding the ethical and societal implications of brand new innovations like nanotechnology.

(Dr. Ira Bennett, Dr. Jamey Wetmore, and the ASU Center for Nanotechnology in Society)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Ira Bennett & Dr. Jamey Wetmore
Arizona State University Center for Nanotechnology in Society
National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure
Sustainable Nano blog post: "How Perceived Fears May Influence Companies’ Labeling of Nanoparticles" by Ese Ehimiaghe
The Federal Register (opportunities for public comment)
New York Times article: "Scientists Bristle at Trump Budget’s Cuts to Research" by Henry Fountain & John Schwartz, March 16, 2017
Inside Higher Ed article: "A ‘Repudiation’ of Trump Budget" by Andrew Kreighbaum, May 2, 2017
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewees: Dr. Ira Bennett & Dr. Jamey Wetmore

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 15. The Art of Beehives, Foam, & Bubbles: An Interview with Peter Krsko

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Artist Peter Krsko uses his background in physics and materials science to study and communicate about nature. He is described as a "bioinspired artist whose approach combines science and art, participatory, interactive and community arts, and play with hands-on education." On this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Krsko about art, science, community building, and spending this semester as Artist in Residence at the UW-Madison Arts Institute's Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program.

(images courtesy of Peter Krsko)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

#### **MORE PHOTOS (all courtesy of Peter Krsko)** ![bergamot]( https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/bergamot.jpg)

Students (left) working on understanding the cone geometry of bergamot seeds (right)

A model of a sculpture (left) inspired by the structural colors of peacock feathers (right)

Community involvement in painting a mural

#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**

Related links:

Dr. Krsko's website, UW-Madison homepage, and Instagram
UW News article: Students find inspiration in class merging science and art by Kelly April Tyrrell
Artivate
UW-Madison Arts Institute's Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program
Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Spring Gallery Night May 5, 2017
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Dr. Peter Krsko

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 14. What Does Nanotechnology Have to Do With Renewable Car Tires?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 13:00:00 +0000

What if car tires could be made from renewable resources instead of petroleum? In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Paul Dauenhauer, part of a research team from the Center for Sustainable Polymers who have developed a new chemical process to make isoprene (one of the key ingredients in car tires) from biomass such as grass or corn.

(images from Paul Dauenhauer & Pixabay)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Dr. Dauenhauer's lab page and Twitter
Newsweek article - New Eco-Friendly, Renewable Tires Stretch the Boundaries of Rubber Production
TV news videos - WCCO 4 and KARE 11
WTIP Radio interview - U of MN researchers develop new technology to make car tires from trees & grasses
University of Minnesota press release - Researchers invent process to produce renewable car tires from trees, grass
ACS Catalysis article by Abdelrahman et al. - Renewable Isoprene by Sequential Hydrogenation of Itaconic Acid and Dehydra-Decyclization of 3-Methyl-Tetrahydrofuran
Center for Sustainable Polymers
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Prof. Paul Dauenhauer

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 13. Communicating About Science with 'Lab Girl' Author Hope Jahren

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 16:47:00 +0000

Dr. Hope Jahren is a geobiologist who studies fossil organisms and the global environment, and is also the New York Times-bestelling author of the memoir Lab Girl. In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Jahren about communicating science with the public, the joys and challenges of writing academic articles, and her thoughts on sexism in science.

(images by Andrea Kamphuis & Gadini)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Dr. Jahren's lab page and Twitter
NPR interview - 'Lab Girl': An Homage To The Wonders Of All Things Green
New York Times review - ‘Lab Girl,’ Hope Jahren’s Road Map to the Secret Life of Plants
Time interview - Hope Jahren on Plants, Mud Manicures and Science's Woman Problem
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Prof. Hope Jahren

Interviewer: Natalie Hudson-Smith

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa, Kai Engel, & Evgeny Grinko

Ep 12. Making Sustainable Nanoparticles From Plants

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 16:04:00 +0000

Nanoparticles are widely used in a variety of technologies, and some researchers are looking for ways to make those nanoparticles more environmentally friendly. In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Mike Curry about his research making nanoparticles from cellulose, a very common molecule found in plants.

Dr. Mike Curry and a network of cellulose nanofibers (nanocellulose image by Qspheroid4)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Dr. Curry's lab page
Sustainable Nano blog posts about carbon nanotubes: bicycles, water purification, fire retardant
Gizmodo article by Jamie Condliffe on 7 Incredible Uses for Nanocellulose
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Prof. Mike Curry

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Spring 2017 Teaser

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 20:46:00 +0000

We're back from winter break and preparing a fantastic batch of podcast episodes for spring 2017! Over the next few months we'll be featuring interviews with Dr. Hope Jahren and Dr. Mike Curry, plus a profile of Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, and much more. Stay tuned!

2017 is here! (image adapted from Vector Open Stock)

Ep 11. When Artists and Scientists Collaborate

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 22:00:00 +0000

Art and science are often though of as completely separate pursuits, but what happens when artists and scientists actually talk to each other? In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Cathy Murphy about her experiences inviting art students to spend time in her chemistry lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Painting by Leah Guadagnoli, inspired by nanocrystal waste! (courtesy of Cathy Murphy)

Some housekeeping news: Over the winter break, we will be moving the podcast to a new host. We'll still link to each episode here on the blog, and we hope there will be minimal (or zero!) disruption for listeners. However, if you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, there is a chance you will need to re-subscribe next month. We'll post updates as we find out more! Meanwhile if you're want to catch up on earlier podcast episodes, you can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also find us on the National Science Foundation's Science360 Radio network.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

Podcast episode 4: Nano Superheroes: at the interface of art & science
Podcast episode 7: What Do Glaciers Have to Do With Nanoscience?
Dr. Murphy's lab page
UIUC College of Fine & Applied Arts
Artist Leah Guiadagnoli
Prof. Chris Robinson, University of South Carolina
Carnegie Mellon Moon Arts Project
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Prof. Cathy Murphy

Producer/Narrator: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa

Ep 10. Why Were Plastic Mirobeads Banned? Marine Debris and Sustainable Plastics

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 6 Dec 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Plastic debris in our water is a huge pollution problem, and just one source of that pollution is the tiny microbeads that have been widely used in personal care products. In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Richard Thompson, a Professor of Marine Biology at Plymouth University and an expert on the effects of plastic debris in the marine environment. We discuss the recent federal ban on microbeads and what consumers can do to be more sustainable in our day-to-day use of plastics.

Plastic microbeads (image by MPCA photos)

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also find us on the National Science Foundation's Science360 Radio network.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Marine Debris: Are There Solutions to this Global Environmental Problem? - video of a presentation by Dr. Thompson at the Global Wave Conference
H.R.1321 - Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015
Ban on Microbeads Proves Easy to Pass Through Pipeline, by John Schwartz. New York Times, Dec 22, 2015
[Scientists Now Know Why Some Seabirds Eat So Much Plastic] (http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/11/plastics-in-the-ocean-smell-like-food-to-seabirds/507092/), by Ed Yong. The Atlantic, Nov 9, 2016
Plastic Island: How our throwaway culture is turning paradise into a graveyard, by Nick Paton Walsh, Ingrid Formanek, Jackson Loo and Mark Phillips. CNN.com, 2016.
Oct 11, 2016: Covestro Lecture in Sustainability: Plastic Debris in
the Ocean
Center for Sustainable Polymers
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Prof. Richard
Thompson

Producers/Narrators: Miriam Krause and Stephanie Mitchell

Music source: Music by Ketsa

Ep 9. Seven Stages of Technological Adaptation

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 15:32:00 +0000

This episode of the podcast features an interview with University of Minnesota graduate student Peter Clement, discussing the book The War on Science by Shawn Otto. We focus on Otto’s explanation of the Seven Stages of Technological Adaptation — an observation that how our society adapts new technology has generally repeated the same sequence of steps over and over, from discovery through crisis and adaptation, especially since the mid-20th Century.

(image from amazon.com)

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/bookreview-waronscience.mp3

Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also find us on the National Science Foundation’s Science360 Radio network.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Shawn Otto and The War on Science
Sustainable Nano blog post on DDT
Peter’s book review blog post – coming soon!
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee : Peter Clement

Producer/Narrator : Miriam Krause

**Music sources: ** Music by Ketsa

**Disclaimer: ** This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology grant. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Tagged: book review, nanotechnology, podcast, public policy, technology

Ep 8. How Nanomaterials Can Build Better Bikes

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 13:27:00 +0000

On this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast, we talk about one example of how nanotechnology is changing something many people use every day: bikes! Margy Robinson, a graduate student in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology and a competitive cyclist, explains how carbon nanotubes and graphene are currently being incorporated into some high-end bicycles.

Floyd Landis racing on a carbon fiber bike in 2006 (photo by Michael David Murphy)

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/ep8-nanotech-bicycles.mp3

For more information, check out Margy’s blog posts on this topic: Nanomaterials in Bicycles???? Part 1 and Part 2.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Interviewee : Margy Robinson

Producer/Narrator : Miriam Krause

Music sources: Our music is by Ketsa and sound effects are from ZapSplat

Tagged: bicycles, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanotechnology

Ep 7. What Do Glaciers Have to Do With Nanoscience?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:15:00 +0000

Why do glaciers sometimes look blue? Hint: it’s not for the same reason we see blue as the color of the sky!

On this episode of the podcast, we have an interview with Dr. Robert Hamers, following up on his recent blog post. Bob is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, and he tells us about a recent family trip to Alaska that got him wondering about why some glaciers have an amazing blue color.

CSN Director Bob Hamers in front of Holgate Glacier (photo by Bob Hamers)

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/whyglacierslookblue1.mp3

Stay tuned for more podcast episodes coming every other week this fall! You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also find us on the National Science Foundation’s Science360 Radio network.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Kenai Fjords National Park: Harding Icefield
Rayleigh Scattering (AKA why the sky is blue!)
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee : Prof. Bob Hamers

Producer/Narrator : Miriam Krause

**Music sources: ** Music for this episode is by Ketsa and the violin sample came from the University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios

Tagged: color, colors, glaciers, music, nano, podcast, wavelength

Ep 6. Happy National Nanotechnology Day!

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:15:00 +0000

October 9, 2016 was the first ever National Nanotechnology Day (10/9 = 10-9 for nano!). On this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast, we talk with Dr. Lisa Friedersdorf, Deputy Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, about National Nanotechnology Day, activities like #100BillionNanometers, the Nobel Prize, and this year’s Generation Nano superhero contest.

image by the Hinkle Group

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/ep6-nationalnanotechday.mp3

Stay tuned for more podcast episodes coming every other week this fall! You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can also subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Relevant links:

National Nanotechnology Initiative: Nano.gov
Nobel Prize in Chemistry: press release and [Sustainable Nano blog post](http://sustainable-nano.com/2016/10/07/how-to-understand-nobel-science/ ‎)
Generation Nano Contest
National Ice Cream Day and National Doughnut Day

Interviewee : Dr. Lisa Friedersdorf

Host/Producer : Miriam Krause

**Music: ** Our music is by Ketsa, from the Free Music Archive

Tagged: nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Day, podcast

Ep 5. What’s the Deal With Triclosan?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:32:00 +0000

As you may have heard, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration recently announced a ban on using the antibacterial agent triclosan (and 18 other substances) in soaps, and then last week the issue of antibacterial resistance was discussed at the UN General Assembly. In this episode of the Sustainable Nano podcast, we talk with scientist Eric Melby about different types of antibacterial chemicals and why we should care about triclosan in the environment.

Soap with triclosan? Not any more! (image by Kelly Thomas)

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/ep5-triclosan.mp3

Stay tuned for more podcast episodes coming every other week this fall! You can find them all on our podcast page, you can subscribe on iTunes, or starting this week you can also find us on Stitcher.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Relevant links:

Eric’s blog post: Is Triclosan Safe? What You Should Know About This Antibacterial Chemical
NPR article by Alison Kodjak: FDA Bans 19 Chemicals Used In Antibacterial Soaps
New York Times article by Sabrina Tavernise: World Leaders Agree at U.N. on Steps to Curb Rising Drug Resistance

Interviewee: Dr. Eric Melby

**Producer/Host: ** Miriam Krause

**Music: ** Our music is by Ketsa, from the Free Music Archive

Tagged: antibacterial, antibiotic resistance, podcast, sustainability, triclosan

Ep 4. Nano Superheros: At the Interface of Art and Science

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:39:00 +0000

Welcome to episode 4 of the Sustainable Nano podcast! In this final new episode of our launch week, we interview the three high school student finalists from NSF’s Generation Nano contest about their amazing nanotechnology-based superheroes.

image credit: Vegas Bleeds Neon

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/generationnano.mp3

Stay tuned for future episodes coming every other week this fall. You can find them here on the blog, or subscribe on iTunes.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Generation Nano program page
Big winners in small science challenge take center stage (NSF press release 16-043)
YouTube: Wil Wheaton Hosts Gen Nano Awards show with message from Stan Lee
STEM to STEAM
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewees : Madeleine Chang, Eric Liu, Vuong Mai, Prof. Suveen Mathaudhu

Producers/Narrators : Miriam Krause & Melissa Richardson

**Music sources: ** Our music is by Ketsa (from the Free Music Archive) and sound effects are from ZapSplat.

Tagged: art, generation nano, high school, nanotechnology, NSF, podcast, STEAM, STEM, superheroes

Ep 3. Nanoparticles in Electric Car Batteries: How Do We Study Sustainability?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 15:46:00 +0000

Welcome to episode 3 of the Sustainable Nano podcast! In this episode, we talk about a recent research study that looked at how one type of battery nanomaterial affects bacteria called Shewanella oneidensis. We interview Mimi Hang and Ian Gunsolus, who were co-first authors of the study as graduate students in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.

The Nissan Leaf is one example of an electric car that uses NMC in its batteries (image by Tennen-Gas)

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/nmc-091416.mp3

The study may sound familiar to regular blog readers – Mimi summarized it in this post and it got some media attention, which we wrote about here and here.

Wrapping up our podcast launch week we will have one more new episode coming tomorrow (nanotechnology superheroes!). After that we will switch to an every-other-week schedule. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes so you don’t miss an episode! Or if you’re not an iTunes person, you can always still listen here on the blog.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
Hang, M. Gunsolus, I., Wayland, H., Melby, E., Mensch, A., Hurley, K., Pedersen, J., Haynes, C., & Hamers, R. Impact of Nanoscale Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) on the Bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Chemistry of Materials. ** 2016,** 28, 1092-1100. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b04505

Interviewees : Dr. Ian Gunsolus, Mimi Hang

Producer/Narrator : Miriam Krause

**Music sources: ** Music for this episode came from the Free Music Archive, specifically tracks by Kesta and Dexter Britain

Tagged: bacteria, batteries, electric cars, nanotechnology, podcast, research, Shewanella oneidensis

Ep 2. Viruses: Biology’s Nanoparticles

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:09:00 +0000

Welcome to episode 2 of the Sustainable Nano podcast! In this episode, we talk with scientist M.G. Finn about how viruses are like (and unlike) nanoparticles, and some of the ways researchers want to use viruses to fight disease.

A virus-like nanoparticle. (image adapted with permission from Pokorski et al. (2011), copyright American Chemical Society)

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/viruses-82516-4-57-pm.mp3

We still have two more new episodes coming up this week! You can listen to them here on the blog or through iTunes.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

The Finn Research Group
Emory Center for Pediatric Nanomedicine
Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
Virus-like nanoparticle image adapted from: Pokorski, J., Breitenkamp, K., Liepold, L., Qazi, S., & Finn, MG. Functional Virus-Based Polymer–Protein Nanoparticles by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2011, 133 (24), 9242–9245. DOI: 10.1021/ja203286n

Interviewee : Professor M.G. Finn

Producer/Narrator : Miriam Krause

**Music source: ** Music for this episode is by Kesta, acquired from the Free Music Archive

Tagged: nanomedicine, nanoparticles, nanotechnology, podcast, viruses

Ep 1. Why Do We Care About Sustainable Nanotechnology?

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 15:52:00 +0000

What does “Sustainable Nano” even mean?

On this pilot episode of our brand new podcast, we talk with the Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, along with students, faculty, and a few complete strangers about some questions related to our Center’s research: What is nanotechnology? What is sustainability? And what does it mean when we put the two terms together?

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/pilot-sept6-9616-4-40-pm.mp3

We’ll be posting new episodes of the podcast Monday through Thursday this week, so stay tuned! You can find each episode here on the blog or on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links :

Interviewees : Dr. Bob Hamers, Dr. Christy Haynes, Dr. Zeev Rosenzweig, Dr. Rebecca Klaper, Dr. Ian Gunsolus, Andie Alton, Austin Hermann, Tamira Amin, Kyle Johnson, Maddy Meyer, Gus Millevolte, Jared Bozich

Producer/Narrator : Dr. Miriam Krause

**Music sources: ** Music for this episode came from the Free Music Archive, specifically tracks by Kesta and Dexter Britain

Tagged: grants, nanotechnology, NSF, podcast, research, sustainability

It’s the Sustainable Nano Podcast Preview!

mkrause@umn.edu (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology) — Fri, 9 Sep 2016 14:44:57 +0000

That’s right, Sustainable Nano is about to become a podcast!

Podcast cover art!

This new audio version of Sustainable Nano is launching next week. You can get a brief sample of what we have in store with this 3-minute preview episode:

https://sustainablenano.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/preview-9916-9-20-am.mp3

Don’t worry, the Sustainable Nano blog that you know and love isn’t going anywhere! Although next week the blog will be dominated by podcast episodes, starting the week of September 19th we’ll resume our regular weekly(ish) schedule of written posts about nanotechnology, sustainability, and life in science.

Tagged: nanotechnology, podcast