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 (ab ..read more

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 unf ..read more

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 Deconstruct ..read more

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: Tr ..read more

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 EPISO ..read more

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 ..read more

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 acces ..read more

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 episod ..read more

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 ..read more

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 pag ..read more