The Black Sheep Pub
247 S. 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
6:00pm
Dr. Noah ClayDirector, Quattrone Nanofabrication Facility, PENN
“Nanotechnology in Nature, Ancient Times, Today and Beyond”
Nanotechnology is a relatively new field encompassing human made objects that are so small that they can not be seen with the naked eye. In the past few decades, advances in nanotechnology have enabled seamless use of electronics in our everyday lives and is the focus of a great deal of research in basic science, engineering and medicine. However, nanomaterials had been used unknowingly by humans for millennia to construct porcelain coatings, paints, dyes, swords, stained glass and sculpture. These early uses of nanotechnology were undoubtedly inspired by nature: bright colors in flowers, spider’s silk, gecko’s feet, shells, butterfly wings and lotus flowers. In this talk, I will connect the objects we see in nature with ancient uses, today’s nano-devices and provide thoughts on where this incredible field will further impact our lives in the next decades.