Our lab recently started a fun new tradition at our biweekly group meetings. Each meeting, one member presents on a topic in material science or an adjacent field. Check out some of the recent ones below!
Meteorites
Presenter: Sam Present
February 14, 2022
Want to counterfeit your own meteorite? Sam’s got you covered. He hypothesized how we could recreate the microstructures of these alien space rocks in our own labs.
Gas Atomization
Presenter: Sharon Park
March 7, 2022
Sharon divulged some of the secrets of her master’s thesis which utilized gas atomization to create metallic powders for additive manufacturing.
Gemstones
Presenter: Catherine Barrie
April 11, 2022
Catherine showed us some of the science behind what makes gemstones so valuable. Find out more about stones like benitoite, painite, and even the Maryland state gem — the Patuxent River stone.
Garnet Micro-Tunnels
Presenter: Kevin Hemker
April 18, 2022
To follow up Catherine’s presentation on gemstones Professor Hemker lead us through a thrilling mystery — what could have caused these interesting micro-tunnels that were ruining these natural garnets? Take a look at this paper and tell us what you think!
Crabs
Presenter: Daniel Magnuson
June 27, 2022
Ever wonder what keeps sea crabs from imploding under the high pressures of deep ocean waters? Me neither. Nevertheless, Daniel enlightened us on the unique microstructure and architecture of crab shells and their mechanical properties.
Mechanical Watches
Presenter: Ali Jalali
September 9, 2022
Want to know why mechanical watches are so expensive? Ali took us through all of the science and engineering that goes into creating a watch that doesn’t need to be wound and is still amazingly accurate.
Electromechanical Pinball Machines
Presenter: Maddy Selby
September 23, 2022
Maddy showed us all the ins and outs of what makes electromechanical pinball machines work (and so fun to play!). If you are curious about their history and their design, take a look at her presentation!
Swords
Presenter: Mike Patullo
October 7, 2022
Let’s cut right to the chase, this presentation is about swords. Mike dove into the details of one of the oldest materials science fields and what makes certain blade materials so special.
The Demon Core
Presenter: Kate Brizzolara
October 21, 2022
Kate shared her passion of World War II era history with her presentation on the Demon Core, an un-dropped atomic bomb. This presentation was a good reminder that safety should always come first in the lab!