Chirality, ubiquitous in chemical and biological systems like DNA, exerts profound effects on the behavior of electrons and light, underscoring the indispensable role of quantum mechanics in elucidating these phenomena.
Speaker: Binghai Yan | @PSU on sabbatical – Weizmann Institute of Science
The ability to accurately weigh and identify micro and nanoparticles, especially at low concentrations, holds significant importance in chemistry, biology, and environmental monitoring. While recent advancements in optical technologies have enabled ultra-low concentrations measurement, surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices have yet to fully match the performance of their optical counterparts. Nonetheless, SAW sensors offer distinct advantages such as low power consumption, ease of integration into lab-on-a-chip platforms, and the ability to be fabricated on flexible substrates with wireless excitation and measurement capabilities. In this presentation, I will introduce acoustic metamaterials and demonstrate how their incorporation into SAW sensors can substantially enhance their performance, particularly in detecting temperature variations and mass loading.
Speaker: Mourad Oudich | Acoustics
How can Penn State leverage its resources and expand its partnerships to address the climate challenges faced in Pennsylvania and across this world? In Fall 2023, the Climate Consortium was established to address this question. In this talk, I will provide an overview of the Climate Consortium's mission and goals, review its themes and current activities, and I will invite dialogue on how best we can do that work together.
Presenter: Erica Smithwick | Director, Earth and Environmental Systems Institute
This talk highlights some diverse applications of CT imaging relevant to multiple disciplines. These applications highlight the varied questions that can be addressed via CT and provide an overview of the services available at the Center for Quantitative Imaging, an IEE Shared Core Facility MicroCT imaging center at Penn State.
Presenter: Michelle Quigley | Center for Quantitative Imaging
Digital health is inherently data-driven. However, data itself is not adequate. Successful digital health applications require a human-centered approach that transforms data into user experience, empathy, and inclusivity. In this talk, I will focus on how to create digital health applications by integrating a human-centered and data-driven approach. I will also reflect on two ongoing digital health projects: creating supportive financial technologies for marginalized communities and using generative AI to provide personalized health interventions.
Speaker: Saeed Abdullah | College of Information Science & Technology
Hydrogen is the simplest molecule in the universe, yet efficient H2 activation, utilization and storage present considerable technological challenges that must be overcome if we are to realize the “green” energy transition. One such phenomenon is “H spillover”, in which H2 is adsorbed (usually on a metal) and then transferred to a metal oxide or carbon surface. Once off the metal, the H becomes highly mobile, scampering freely across the surface. We recently provided the first quantitative measures of H spillover, which leads to the surprising conclusion that spill over is a rare example of entropy-driven adsorption. This has important implications for spillover-based H2 storage materials and H2 utilization / storage reactions such as CO2 hydrogenation.
Speaker: Bert Chandler | Chemistry & Chemical Engineering