Throughout history, mankind has used clothing to protect itself from the elements. With modern materials science principles in mind, humans are now equipped to protect themselves from the elements better than ever. But how can innovation take place in such a well explored area of consumer products?   Today we talk with Dr. Haskell Beckham, the Senior Director Innovation at Columbia Sportswear, to find out exactly how materials science paradigms are used to develop the next generation of apparel to keep us safe from the elements.   In this exciting conversation about the advances in the apparel industry we discuss: The scientific principles that apply in the apparel industry (3:44) Using metals in clothing for their heat transfer properties (11:33) The history of clothing and the tradeoffs between natural and synthetic fibers (15:52) Fashion trends influencing innovations in the apparel industry (28:38) How the International Space Station is a model for heat management in clothing (38:18) Overcoming the challenges of Smart Clothing (40:00) And much more!   Want to discuss these topics further with Dr. Haskell Beckham? He can be reached at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hbeckham/     For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!   Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.  

Professional development is crucial to maximizing your ability to apply the engineering skills learned in school. Being able to refine these skills can have a positive impact on the array of opportunities available after college. In today’s episode, the two of us decided to chat and discuss what we have learned about professional development so far in our careers.   In this discussion about professional development we discuss: How gaining real-world context for scientific topics helps aid learning (3:58) Participating in leadership can dramatically improve soft skills (11:51) Some of the lessons we learned getting our first work experiences (16:40) Networking more effectively with professors as a student (24:02) How to use networking tools to their strongest effect (33:12) And much more!   Since this is the first full episode we have done without a guest, please leave us your feedback about the episode by either messaging us on Instagram, LinkedIn or emailing us at: itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com.     For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!   Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.

How can materials science facilitate the process of creating skis from the oils of microalgae? Going from a new type of material to product is a challenge for any innovation - especially when trying to design biopolymers for rugged applications. Further, discovering innovative and sustainable ways to meet mankind’s massive demand for plastic products is a crucial challenge to tackle in this coming decades.    In today's Episode we discuss these issues with Dr. Scott Franklin, the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Checkerspot, a startup looking to tackle these exact challenges. Checkerspot is focused on creating plastics from the oils produced by microalgae.     Dr. Scott Franklin can be contacted by writing him at: https://checkerspot.com/contact/   In this exciting conversation about innovations in biology and materials we discuss: How Checkerspot utilizes materials science for rapid innovation (1:31) Why backcountry skis were chosen as the first use-case (6:38) How Checkerspot tailors the output of microbes for outdoor products (15:44) Overcoming the challenge of scaling up biotechnology to meet competitive cost (24:40) Discussing the paradigm of biomanufacturing (30:48) The impact of this technology on climate change (38:58) And much more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!   Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.

Among its many applications, Materials Science and Engineering has a strong influence in how we design and package pharmaceuticals. In today’s episode we talk with Dr. Pratik Upadhyay, a Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca about the role of optimizing materials to enhance the performance of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, we explore the connections between the paradigms of drug design and delivery with other subfields of materials science and engineering.   Dr. Pratik Upadhyay can be reached via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niperpratikpe/    Our topics in today’s episode include: The importance of focusing on user needs in this space (4:08) Similarities between pharmaceutical field and other materials fields (7:20) Considerations of polymorphism in drug design (13:08) Optimizing materials properties to enhance manufacturing (21:41) Nanotechnology in the future of pharmaceuticals (25:54) The role of computations in predicting polymorphism (37:54)  And much more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!   Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.

Developing new metal alloys is crucial for advancing mankind's needs in the 21st century. And many researchers are attempting to make sure their alloy systems of focus are king in the next wave of metals applications. In today’s episode we talk with Dr. Naresh Thadhani, a Professor & Chair in The School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech, about the fierce competition to make the next best alloy system.    Dr. Naresh Thadhani can be reached at: http://www.mse.gatech.edu/people/naresh-thadhani.   Our topics in today’s episode include: How metal artwork inspired Dr. Thadhani’s career in metallurgy (3:31) Comparing and contrasting steel and aluminum (5:05) The impact of lightweight alloys on consumers (11:32) How steel was made into some of the deadliest swords in history (19:16) Using dynamic pressure application systems in materials research (22:31) The impact of computational MSE on the field (36:06) Current limitations of understanding materials during testing (42:34) And much more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!   Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations for which they are affiliated.

Polymers provide a diverse range of solutions to some of our most challenging problems - especially in healthcare. In today’s episode we talk with Dr. Jeff Hrivnak, a Strategic Growth Manager at Solvay, to explore the possibilities unlocked by polymers. He can be reached at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhrivnak/. In this conversation we unpack of the challenges polymers are uniquely equipped to solve in the biomedical field.    Our topics in today’s episode include: What polymers are, and how they vary from other classes of materials (2:10) How structure and types of polymers drive their applications (9:02) Using polymers to filter blood in hemodialysis (14:44) How Solvay has used their technologies to help during COVID-19 crisis (20:20) Analyzing sustainability of plastic medical devices (30:29)  And much more! For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

Ceramic materials have been the backbone of human civilization for thousands of years. But how will these materials continue to evolve with humans in the 21st century and beyond? In today’s episode we talk with Dr. Kristen Brosnan, the Technology Director at Superior Technical Ceramics (STC). In this conversation we dig deep into the benefits of using ceramics in a number of modern applications and the future of this diverse class of materials.    Our topics in today’s episode include: What ceramics are and how do they compare to the other classes of materials (4:02) Classifying the different types of ceramic materials (11:15) Tradeoffs of using different types of ceramics in high temperature applications (14:02) The history of ceramics (20:30) The hidden use of ceramics to make turbine blades in aircraft applications (26:19) Ceramics in biomedical applications (35:00) How metals are being replaced by ceramic materials (42:12) And much more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!  

Electronics are the core of our information age. So how will Materials Scientists drive the next great leap in electronics technology? In today’s episode we talk with Dr. Himani Sharma, a lecturer and former research scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In this conversation we unpack how and where the next generation of electronics innovations may occur.   Our topics in today’s episode include: Solving connectivity issues in circuits to improve their performance (11:32) The connection between Moore’s Law and MSE (20:30) Looking into solutions to solve the problem of e-waste (26:48) Graphene and 2D materials (33:16) Increasing opportunity for human-electronic integrations (42:44) And much more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

How can we store and produce energy more sustainably? That is a question that we asked Dr. Maurits van Tol, the Chief Technology Officer at Johnson Matthey, in today's episode of the podcast. During this wide ranging conversation we learned how catalysts, hydrogen and other innovations in materials science can help achieve a more sustainable future.    Our topics in today’s episode include: The goal of scaling up the hydrogen energy economy (5:40) How catalysts are used to stop air pollutants (8:00) Catalysts being used to make industrial processes less intensive (10:47) Hydrogen as an energy storage solution (12:04) Overcoming limitations on the hydrogen industry (18:17) Recycling of Platinum Group Metals (21:08) Developing newer and more sustainable battery technologies (27:30) And much more!   Youtube Video about PGMs by Periodic Videos: https://youtu.be/Fg2WzCzKpYU      For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

How do we power transportation sustainably? It’s a tough question driving many exciting innovations all over the industry. In today’s episode Punith and Tom talk with Karen O’Brien, a Sustainability Engineering Manager at Gevo Inc., about the prospect of using biofuels to tackle this grand challenge of the 21st century.   Our topics in today’s episode include: The motivation for developing biofuel technologies Using biofuels in commercial aviation Using life-cycle analysis to produce biofuels sustainably The dramatic benefits of biofuels compared to fossil fuels Where additional growth can be seen in the bioenergy space Carbon pricing paradigms And much more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes or email us directly at itsamaterialworldpodcast@gmail.com. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

Titanium is the titan of materials. Without it - our modern world would not be possible. From airplanes, medical implants and expensive jewelry, titanium's properties drive its ability to perform in applications when no other materials can. In this episode Punith and Tom sit down with Daniel Frydryk, an Advanced Lead Engineer at GE Additive, about the current and future prospects of titanium.    Our topics today include: Current and future applications of titanium  Use of Titanium alloys in the SR-71 blackbird The Sioux City plane crash The use of titanium in Additive Manufacturing Why titanium is biocompatible  The microstructure of titanium and how it affects its properties  The challenges of using titanium How titanium processing affects climate change And more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a technology that looks to revolutionize the way everything is made. From upending current norms about part design and supply chains - the possible technological disruptions of AM are endless. In today's episode Punith and Tom sit down with Lyndsay Kibler, a Lead Materials Application Engineer from GE Additive, to discuss the future of this promising technology.    Our topics today include: The current state of the Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry Future applications of AM Whats all the hype around AM about? The role of Materials Engineers in AM Potential applications of Machine Learning in the space Discussion of the different types of metal additive manufacturing And more!   For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

Nanotechnology embodies the idea that the smallest things can make the biggest differences in our lives. By manipulating materials at the nanoscale, we can create products that perform better than we've ever seen before. In this episode, we uncover why this is possible and discuss how nanotechnology will impact our future. Our topics today include: What is nanotechnology? Why there's so much hype around this field Today's applications of nanoscience How nanotechnology is used to fight against COVID-19 Explaining nanotechnology in Marvel movies How metamaterials can turn invisibility into reality More information on nanosponges against COVID-19 can be found HERE. More information about metamaterials and invisibility cloaking can be found HERE. For shorter segments, subscribe to our channel on Youtube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to DM us @itsamaterialworldpodcast if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes. Finally, reach out to Tom Miller and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!

Want to find out how materials science is changing our world as we know it? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to the It’s a Material World podcast! In this episode, we explore our motivation for starting this show and the importance of discussing materials science. We also delve into our respective backgrounds and hint at some of the episodes we have planned for you.  Check out our Social Media! We are on Youtube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Visit our website and contact us if you have any feedback!