You are invited to join us for a series of 10-minute science talks presented by the Caltech community and coordinated by the Caltech Postdoc Association (CPA) and the Explore Caltech organizing committee. Every Wednesday from 5pm to 6pm in May, members of the Caltech community will share short talks on science and engineering topics that interest them via Zoom. These talks, which will be targeted to a general audience, are free, and members of both the Caltech community and the general public are invited.
JOIN US ON ZOOM: https://caltech.zoom.us/j/97030969175
Presenters for May 6
Lights, Charge, Action! The Promise of Plasmonics
Arun Nagpal, graduate student in applied physics
The Promise of Plasmonics Light-matter interactions form the bedrock of many applied physicists' and engineers' work. One consequence of this interaction in metals is the formation of particle-like disturbances in the electrons of the material, called ‘plasmons.' Plasmons are formed when light excites huge groups of electrons at once, causing them to oscillate together to form localized regions of charge. I'll talk about how plasmonics — the study of these plasmons — plays a role in solar cell design, medicine, and other technologies. I'll also discuss my own research on plasmons in the ‘wonder material' graphene, and how the future of plasmonics can change next generation electronic devices.Protein Engineering Past and Future
Kevin Kaichuang Yang, alumnus
At any given moment, each of your cells contains 1-3 billion proteins that provide physical structure, move other molecules around, and carry out the essential chemistry for life. These remarkable machines are built from just 20 building blocks, called amino acids. By learning which amino acids to use, protein engineers hope to discover life-saving medicines and more environmentally-friendly chemistry.The Science of Glaciers in Disney's "Frozen 2"
Celeste Labedz, graduate student in geophysics
Mix movie magic and spectacular science to learn about glaciers through Disney's Frozen! In Frozen 2, Queen Elsa enters a glacier to discover the secrets of her past and find the keys to saving her kingdom. This talk for science and Disney fans of all ages follows the song "Show Yourself" to share what glaciers are, how they form, and why they're important to understanding the mysteries of our past and future, just like Elsa's.For more information, please contact John Bostick at [email protected], or Pablo Garrido Barros at [email protected].
