Millennium Café

Electroceramic materials power countless modern technologies from smartphones to electric vehicles, yet understanding their internal structure, failure mechanisms, lifetime reliability, and processing relationships remains challenging. This talk explores how ultrasonic waves can characterize these materials beyond conventional testing standards, revealing critical properties and manufacturing defects that traditional methods often miss. By harnessing sound to analyze how processing methods impact material integrity and performance, we're developing more reliable electroceramics for innovations across electronics, renewable energy, and beyond.

Haley Jones

Materials Science & Engineering

Ancient Greek philosophers valued a virtue called phronesis or “practical wisdom,” which involves doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. It is the conceptual counterpoint to a form of apathy known as akrasia, or knowing what's right, but not doing it. In my recent book, Peace by Peace: Risking Public Action, Creating Social Change, I explore these dynamics and in this lively ten-minute talk will share some insight on how to operationalize practical wisdom in your everyday life.

Lisa Silvestri
Communication Arts & Sciences

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a powerful technique for determining the structures of diverse biological systems, ranging from individual proteins and viruses to entire cells and tissue sections. This method involves flash-freezing samples in liquid nitrogen, followed by high-resolution imaging with advanced electron microscopes. The resulting images are then computationally processed to reconstruct detailed 3D structures, revealing the precise arrangement of molecules and atoms. By providing near-atomic resolution structural information, cryo-EM offers critical insights into biological functions, viral infection mechanisms, and protein aggregates associated with diseases like Alzheimer's. This presentation will highlight the capabilities of cryo-EM, discuss current challenges in sample preparation and data analysis, and explore potential collaborations across scientific disciplines.

Wen Jiang |  Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Flooding is the most frequent and costly disaster to occur in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Climate change is expected to exacerbate heavy rainfall in our region, and aging flood protection infrastructure in under-resourced communities compound concerns about future flooding. This talk will focus on the components of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability that are making Pennsylvania riskier when it comes to severe flooding.

Kaleigh Yost  |  Civil & Environmental Engineering

The Millennium Café will return April 1, 2025.

The Millennium Café will return April 1, 2025.