Millennium Café

It is existentially important (I would argue) for academia to bridge its immense (I would argue) divide with the general public.  Many long‑standing institutional norms and processes—including promotion and tenure criteria—effectively discourage research that prioritizes meaningful societal impacts ahead of traditional scholarly outputs. Let’s discuss concrete, responsive + proactive steps that can be taken to help shape an academic culture that remains rigorous while becoming more deeply engaged with the broader world it serves.

PJ Perry | Anthropology

What if the technologies we use to understand the brain were as soft and flexible as the brain itself? For decades, neural interfaces/devices that help us listen to, communicate with, and heal the nervous system have been built like machines: rigid, metallic, and mechanically mismatched to the living tissues they touch.  In this talk, I share how new generations of soft biomaterials and tissue-like bioelectronics are reshaping the way we connect with the nervous system.

Tao Zhou | Engineering Science & Mechanics

Solid waste accumulation is a major challenge. Recycling efforts, spurred by material shortages after World War II, led to near-zero-waste manufacturing and compostable plastics. Yet composites remain difficult to recycle. These materials are critical for lightweight electric vehicles, aerospace, defense, energy systems, and construction. The global composites market is about $100 billion (2022–2023), with 25% by volume in construction. However, recycling composites typically degrades properties, preventing reuse in similar applications. As composites move from lab to widespread use, waste grows while recovery strategies lag. At Penn State, the Randall group’s cold sintering process offers a solution. We have demonstrated its ability to recycle battery and structural composites, advancing materials circularity in a unique and promising way.

Enrique Gomez | Chemical Engineering

Biodevice innovation drives advances in human‑health technologies, enabling earlier diagnosis, real‑time monitoring, and more effective interventions. The Penn State Center for Biodevices accelerates the translation of discoveries into practical solutions by integrating materials science, engineering, biology, and data‑driven design. Founded in 2020 with a focus on medical devices, the Center is expanding into agricultural sustainability and environmental resiliency, reflecting a systems‑level view of health that links human well‑being, food systems, and the environment. This overview will highlight the Center’s mission, research priorities, and new seed funding and partnership models driving impact from Penn State labs to real‑world deployment.

Scott Medina I Biomedical Engineering

The fall semester Millennium Café has concluded. Enjoy the holiday and winter break. We will see you when we return in January 2026!

Solid waste accumulation is a major challenge. Recycling efforts, spurred by material shortages after World War II, led to near zero-waste manufacturing and compostable plastics. Yet composites remain difficult to recycle. These materials are critical for lightweight electric vehicles, aerospace, defense, energy systems, and construction. The global composites market is about $100 billion (2022–2023), with 25% by volume in construction. However, recycling composites typically degrades properties, preventing reuse in similar applications. As composites move from lab to widespread use, waste grows while recovery strategies lag. At Penn State, the Randall group’s cold sintering process offers a solution. We have demonstrated its ability to recycle battery and structural composites, advancing materials circularity in a unique and promising way.

Enrique Gomez  |  Chemical Engineering