Ep 29. Green is the Color of Chemistry

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

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.

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

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.

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:

• Kaz Nelson:  website, Twitter
• The Mind Deconstructed Podcast
• The Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow's Hierarchy
• The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

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  

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.