Science communication takes a lot of different forms, including improvisation. In this episode, we interview Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology graduate student Paige Kinsley and alum Liz Laudadio. The episode dives deep into the life skills you can learn from doing improv, how it can make you a better listener, and how it relates to science storytelling. Not to mention the benefits of finding hobbies to do with your labmates.(Paige Kinsley (left) and Liz Laudadio (right), mid-improv performance and recording this episode's interview, along with Blue the cat. (photos courtesy of Liz Laudadio & Paige Kinsley)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 EPISODERelated links:Liz Laudadio: website, TwitterPaige Kinsley: website, TwitterAtlas Theater CompanyMinh Tam Hoang's blog post: coming soon!Article about summer undergraduate programs: COVID-19 shakes up summer internship and research opportunitiesThe Center for Sustainable NanotechnologyArgonne National LaboratoryInterviewees: Liz Laudadio & Paige KinsleyInterviewer/Editor: Stephanie MitchellProducer/Host: Miriam KrauseAssistant Producer: Emma BublitzMusic: PC III and Dexter BritainThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Sustainable Nano

Ep 36. "Yes, and...": A Guide to Effective Science Communication Using Improvisation

How do you photograph the unphotographable? In this episode we interview MIT research scientist Felice Frankel, who specializes in visualizing science, using pictures to draw audiences in and help scientists more deeply examine their own work, including nanoscale materials that are smaller than wavelengths of light! We also have a mini-interview with graduate student Paige Kinsley about how COVID-19 is affecting chemistry labs in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology.(photos by Miriam Krause)Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.ABOUT THIS EPISODERelated links:Felice FrankelBooks: Modern Landscape Architecture, Picturing Science & Engineering, No Small MatterStephen J. Gould; E.O. Wilson; George Whitesides; Don EiglerSustainable Nano blog posts: Ferrofluid, gold color & surface plasmon resonanceThe Center for Sustainable NanotechnologyInterviewees: Felice Frankel & Paige KinsleyInterviewer: Stephanie MitchellEditor: Natalie Hudson-SmithProducer/Host: Miriam KrauseMusic: PC III and Dexter BritainThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Ep. 35 Photographing the Unphotographable

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 365 nm UV (carbon dot image by Bo Zhi)Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.ABOUT THIS EPISODERelated links:Christy Haynes: website, TwitterSustainable Nano blog post: Have you ever seen colorful "carbon"?Pham, S. et al. Carbon Dots: A Modular Activity To Teach Fluorescence and Nanotechnology at Multiple Levels. Journal of Chemical Education, 2017. 94(8) 1143-1149. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00995The Center for Sustainable NanotechnologyInterviewee: Christy HaynesProducer/Host: Miriam KrauseMusic: PC III and Dexter BritainThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Ep. 34 Winter Holiday Mini-Episode: Colorful Carbon Dots

How often do college women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) experience sexism? And how do these experiences affect their likelihood of staying in scientific fields? In this episode we talk with Majel Baker, a counseling psychologist who investigated these questions in her doctoral dissertation. Spoiler alert: sexism is bad. But there are ways we can work to improve the situation. Plus, we have a mini-interview about what this year's chemistry Nobel prize had to do with sustainable nanotechnology.(photo courtesy of Majel Baker)Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.ABOUT THIS EPISODERelated links:Majel Baker: website, Twitterarticles coming soon (links will be added when available): Daily Sexism Experienced by Women in STEM Majors; The power of peers: Correlates of classroom climate in undergraduate women in STEMNatalie Hudson-Smith: website, TwitterNational Academies Report: Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018)Cheryan, et al. Why are some STEM fields more gender balanced than others? Psychological Bulletin, 2017, 143(1) 1-35.Grogan, K. How the entire scientific community can confront gender bias in the workplace. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2019, 3,3-6.Pollack, E. What really keep women out of tech. New York Times, Oct 10, 2015.Rogers, M. STEM-ming the Tide. Inside Higher Ed, Nov 27, 2013.Resources about gender: Planned Parenthood - Sexual Orientation and Gender; GLAAD Glossary of Terms - Transgender; The Trevor Project - Trans + Gender IdentityLiz Laudadio: website2019 Nobel Prize in ChemistrySustainable Nano blog posts:How do lithium-ion batteries work?Does Eating Turkey Make You Sleepy? (Answer: No, but tryptophan can teach us about nanotoxicology!)Turkeys and Photonic Crystals: Lots to Be Thankful ForThe Center for Sustainable NanotechnologyInterviewees: Majel Baker & Liz LaudadioInterviewer: Natalie Hudson-SmithProducer/Host: Miriam KrauseMusic: PC III and Dexter BritainNote: This episode description was edited on Nov 27, 2019 to reflect the fact that Majel Baker has not yet received her PhD. Although she has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, we're still not allowed to call her "Dr. Baker" quite yet.This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Ep. 33 It Just Didn't Feel Like Me: Belonging and Sexism in Science

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 PodcastWant more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.#### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE**Related links:Prof. Mike Filler: website, TwitterNanovation PodcastMoore's LawMoore’s Law Is Dead. Now What? by Tim Simonite in MIT Technology Review, 2016.Prof. Kira BartonProf. Bob Hamers (Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Director)Natalie Hudson-Smith: website, TwitterAsk A Mortician YouTube ChannelThe Order of the Good DeathThe Center for Sustainable NanotechnologyInterviewees: Mike Filler & Natalie Hudson-SmithProducer/Host: Miriam KrauseMusic: PC III and Dexter BritainThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.

Ep 32. An Electronic Circuit on Every Seed?

We've got a great lineup of episodes taking shape for this year on our themes of Nanotechnology, Sustainability, and Life in Science. Interviews include Prof. Mike Filler talking about nanowires and his podcast Nanovation, Majel Baker discussing the effects of sexism in science, Felice Frankel talking about visual communication for nanoscience, and that's only the beginning. Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode!

Season 4 Preview

Last November, Dr. Cat Hicks wrote an essay on Medium called "Reading vulnerable learners' applications to grad school: we need to stop failing them." In this episode of the podcast, University of Minnesota graduate student Becky Rodriguez interviews Dr. Hicks about her essay, her educational and career path, and how our educational system can be stacked against vulnerable learners. She offers some advice for applicants, those who review applications, and others who may just want to help. "A truly inclusive and diverse future will produce way better work, and you only get there by saying, 'we have to be comfortable with letting people be different.'" Our conversation is especially relevant given recent news and discussion about unfairness and fraud in U.S. college admissions. (And if you want to know what any of this has to do with asteroid fields, you'll just have to listen to the episode.) Dr. Cat Hicks (left, photo courtesy of Dr. Hicks) and a tweet about her Medium essay on helping students with grad school applications Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Dr. Cat Hicks: website, Twitter Reading vulnerable learners’ applications to grad school: we need to stop failing them by Cat Hicks, Medium, Nov 17, 2018 Becky Rodriguez: profile and Twitter Elite Colleges Constantly Tell Low-Income Students That They Do Not Belong by Clint Smith, The Atlantic, March 18, 2019 The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon by Alvin Chang, Vox.com, updated Sept 12, 2018. Scott Klemmer, Chinmay Kulkarni, PeerStudio Framing feedback: Choosing review environment features that support high quality peer assessment by C. Hicks et al. 201. doi: 10.1145/2858036.2858195 PeerStudio: rapid peer feedback emphasizes revision and improves performance by Kulkarni et al. 2015. doi: 10.1145/2724660.2724670 Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Cat Hicks Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Interviewer: Becky Rodriguez Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 31. Jumping Asteroid Clouds: Supporting Vulnerable Learners in Educational Achievement

What could be cooler than a technology that uses nanomaterials? How about one that combines two nanomaterials! Nanocomposites bring together two or more nanoscale materials to take advantage of their combined features to get what Dr. Klaus Müllen calls "the best out of two worlds." Dr. Müllen is an emeritus director at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, where his work ranges from the chemistry and physics of small molecules to nanocomposites and biosynthetic hybrids. In this interview he talks about how a fascination with color got him into chemistry, some of the many technological applications for nanocomposites, and some candid advice for young scientists. (L-R) Stephanie Mitchell, Dr. Klaus Müllen, and Andrew Northwick after their interview Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Klaus Müllen AAAS and 2019 Annual Meeting AAAS Communicating Science Seminar For more on polymers and monomers, see this Sustainable Nano blog post Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Klaus Müllen Interviewers: Stephanie Mitchell & Andrew Northwick Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 30. Nanocomposites: Getting the Best of Two Worlds

Dr. Mary Kirchhoff is Executive Vice President of Scientific Advancement at the American Chemical Society and Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. Her career has spanned a variety of experiences related to sustainability in chemistry, including working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's green chemistry program and co-editing a book on Greener Approaches to Undergraduate Chemistry Experiments. In this episode, Dr. Kirchhoff shares insights and examples on the importance of green chemistry with two graduate student interviewers from the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology. Dr. Mary Kirchhoff, Executive Vice President of Scientific Advancement at ACS (left); green chemistry image by IO-images Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Mary Kirchhoff The Chemistry is Always Greener... by Mary Kirchhoff, 2011 ACS Green Chemistry Institute Environmental Protection Agency green chemistry resources AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Mary Kirchhoff Interviewers: Stephanie Mitchell & Peter Clement Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Editor: Alicia McGeachy Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 29. Green is the Color of Chemistry

Alvin Chang, Senior Graphics Reporter for Vox, wrote and illustrated an article last year called "The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon." In this episode of the podcast, we share the audio of a webinar that Chang presented for the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology about his work. He tackles challenging issues of class, bias, and educational attainment using clear illustrations (verbal as well as visual) and simple analogies that are relevant far beyond the world of academic science. Alvin Chang, Senior Graphics Reporter for Vox (left, courtesy of Alvin Chang) and one of his illustrations for "The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon" (right, used with permission from Vox.com) Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Alvin Chang: website, Twitter The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon. Vox.com, updated Sept 12, 2018. Money, Race and Success: How Your School District Compares. By Motoko Rich, Amanda Cox, and Matthew Bloch, The New York Times, April 29, 2016. Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Alvin Chang Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Audience Questions: Peter Clement, Nicholas Niemuth, Becky Rodriguez, & Rigoberto Hernandez Editor: Alicia McGeachy Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 28. Who's Not In the Room and Why Not? Inclusivity and Bias Across Class Backgrounds in College Education

Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) is an important nanomaterial used in batteries, but little is known about what happens when it gets exposed to the environment. In this episode we interview Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology graduate student Liz Laudadio, who was the first author on a recent paper about what happens to LCO when it gets exposed to phosphates in water. We discuss why phosphates are important and next steps to understanding potential environmental impacts of nanomaterials: "It's a constant loop of, How do nanoparticles affect the environment? How does the environment affect nanoparticles?" Left: Liz Laudadio working with an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), which was used in this study to quantify how much phosphate adsorbed to LCO nanoparticles. Center/Right: Transmission Electron Microscope images of LCO nanosheets (from Laudadio et al. 2018, used with permission from the American Chemical Society) Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Liz Laudadio Laudadio, L., Bennett, J., Green, C., Mason, S., & Hamers, R. Impact of Phosphate Adsorption on Complex Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticle Dispersibility in Aqueous Media. Environmental Science & Technology 2018, 52 (17), pp 10186–10195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02324 Mason Lab Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Liz Laudadio Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Music: PC III and Dexter Britain

Ep 27. The Constant Loop: How Nanoparticles and the Environment Affect Each Other

How are photons like toddlers? And what does that have to do with solar energy? Dr. Jillian Buriak has been researching nanomaterials and renewable energy for over a decade, including work to improve solar panel technology. In this first episode of the Sustainable Nano Podcast's third season, we interview Dr. Buriak, who is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alberta and Canada Research Chair of Nanomaterials for Energy, about her research, career path, and even some advice for junior scientists.  Dr. Jillian Buriak (left) and the cover illustration of single-crystal nickel−iron oxide nanoparticles of different shapes, based on an article from her lab (right, from Bao et al. 2014. (used with permission from the American Chemical Society) Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Dr. Jillian Buriak: lab page and Twitter Canada Research Chair in Nanomaterials Covestro Lectureship Bau et al. Nickel/Iron Oxide Nanocrystals with a Nonequilibrium Phase: Controlling Size, Shape, and Composition. Chemistry of Materials 2014, 26 (16), 4796-4804. DOI: 10.1021/cm501881a Center for Sustainable Polymers Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Dr. Jillian Buriak Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Editor: Alicia McGeachy Music: PC III

Ep 26. Nanomaterials and Renewable Energy: From Solar Panels to Machine Learning

It's Season 3 of the Sustainable Nano Podcast! Here's a quick preview of a few of our upcoming episodes, including interviews with Dr. Mary Kirchhoff, Alvin Chang, & Dr. Jillian Buriak. Sustainable Nano Season 3 is on the way! Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology National Nanotechnology Day (October 9) Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Music: PC III

Season 3 Preview

In the second interview from our visit to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, graduate students Natalie Hudson-Smith and Jaya Borgatta interview Dr. Wade Elmer, Chief Scientist for the Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology. They discuss everything from everyday garden fertilizers to cutting-edge nanoparticle experiments on watermelon. Dr. Wade Elmer with eggplant seedlings at the Connecticut Agricultural Research Station. (image by Jan Ellen Spiegel, used with permission from Undark Magazine) Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Dr. Wade Elmer The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Undark magazine: In Connecticut, a Nanoscale Agricultural Experiment With Global Potential by Jan Ellen Spiegel Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Dr. Wade Elmer Interviewers: Natalie Hudson-Smith and Jaya Borgatta Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Music: Ketsa

Ep 25. Finding the Next Fix for the World's Problems: More from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

How do we "see" nanoparticles when they're too small to view with a normal microscope? In this episode we interview Kelly Zhang, a graduate student in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology who recently published a paper about a new way to use NMR technology (like MRI for chemistry) to study the behavior of molecules that form a shell on diamond nanoparticles. We also talk about how watching anime as a kid inspired Kelly to become a chemist. Kelly Zhang and a model of a polymer-wrapped diamond nanoparticle like the ones studied in her recent article (image adapted courtesy of Author Choice license from the American Chemical Society) Want more podcast episodes? You can find them all on our podcast page, on spotify, or you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. #### **ABOUT THIS EPISODE** Related links: Kelly Zhang Zhang Y., Fry C., Pedersen J., & Hamers R. Dynamics and Morphology of Nanoparticle-Linked Polymers Elucidated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Analytical Chemistry, 2017, 89(22) 12399-12407. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03489 Anime series Case Closed and character Shiho Miyano Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Interviewee: Kelly Zhang Producer/Host: Miriam Krause Music: Ketsa and Dexter Britain

Ep 24. Using MRI technology to study nanoparticles

Curious about nanotechnology, sustainability, and life in science? The Sustainable Nano podcast is produced by the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, a chemistry research center funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

hubhopper

Sustainable Nano

hubhopper