Mike Zach demonstrating his novel NanoFab Lab… in a Box! during the ECS Meeting!

“What I do is simply help develop confidence in students.”

That’s Mike Zach’s mission with his exceptionally novel NanoFab Lab… in a Box!

Looking to inspire young people and help propel them in scientific careers, Zach took it upon himself to develop an affordable, self-automated, easy to use nanolab.

What Zach is doing is allowing students to understand complex science and have a hands-on experience in making patterned nanowires. Typically nanowires need a multimillion dollar lab to be produced, but Zach has streamlined this process in order to give high school-aged students all over the country a chance to immerse themselves in this seemingly limitless science.

“I’m just looking to get more students involved in electrochemistry… in the science,” said Zach.

(more…)

David Wipf talks about the ECS Podcast during the Bard and Moore Award Winners Dinner at the 227th ECS Meeting Meeting.

From undergrads to PhD students, ECS’s David Wipf covers the educational spectrum at Mississippi State University. His goal? Wipf wants to get more students interested in science by showing them the human side of scientists and what happens beyond the lab.

Wipf recently heard Johna Leddy’s ECS podcast immediately saw the value in it for his students.

“It’s great that students get to hear how these scientists started,” said Wipf. “They weren’t super geniuses—they just liked science.”

As a professor in analytical chemistry, Wipf is always striving to get his students excited about science. While guests on the ECS podcast—such as Subhash Singhal and John Turner—happen to be very prominent scientists, Wipif appreciates the fact listeners get to see the unique stories of the guests’ roots and early scientific career.

“The podcasts show that everybody could do it if they wanted to,” said Wipf.

Arizona State University’s Yixian Wang and the Allen J. Bard Award.

The 227th ECS Meeting is in full swing, and today the first ever Allen J. Bard Award was presented to Henry White. While we’ve featured White’s immense contributions to science and Bard’s impact in shaping modern electrochemistry, we’ve yet to talk about the award itself

The Allen J. Bard Award was designed by Arizona State University student Yixian Wang. Under the guidance of Dr. Michael Mirkin—who was part of Bard’s group at the University of Texas at Austin—Wang used a culmination of her scientific and artistic skills to design the Allen J. Bard Award.

The design is based in electrochemistry, featuring a fundamental electrochemical double layer.

Wang is currently completing her PhD in electrochemistry and will be presenting at the poster session during the ECS 227th Meeting.

Electronic and Photonic Devices and Systems Technical Editor
for
ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology and ECS Solid State Letters

ECS (The Electrochemical Society) is seeking to fill the position of Technical Editor of the Electronic and Photonic Devices and Systems Technical Interest Area for the ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology and ECS Solid State Letters.

The Electronic and Photonic Devices and Systems (EPDS) Technical Interest Area (TIA) includes fundamental properties and measurements of device fabrication and characteristics for electronic and photonic applications. Specific topics include thin film transistors; MOSFETs; bipolar devices; quantum devices; silicon, germanium, and related microelectronic and photonic devices; micro- and nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS); solid state sensors; wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices; photovoltaic energy conversion devices; phase change memories; graphene-based devices; plasmonics; power devices; silicon-on-insulator devices; and bioelectronics. Learn more.

Call for Papers
JES Focus Issue:

Electrochemical Interfaces in Energy Storage Systems

Submission Deadline | June 20, 2015

Focusing on a better understanding of the mechanism of electronic and ionic transport phenomena across electrode-electrolyte interfaces and solid-state interphases in electrochemical energy storage systems. Learn more.

The 227th ECS Meeting begins this coming Sunday, May 24. We’re excited to see you there! In preparation, we’ve put together a quick checklist to make sure you’re prepared for all of the events of the meeting.

Not going to the meeting? Make sure to keep up with the blog and follow us on Facebook at Twitter to get a peak at all of the events!

My Meeting Checklist:

Schedule sessions, meetings, events on meeting app | check it out now
Order Chicago proceedings | what’s published now
Submit article to an ECS journal | use free article credit
Go to the Pine and Metrohm exhibitors’ workshops | exhibitor hall
Read Daily News emails starting Sunday

While I’m at the registration desk:

Sign up for 5K | bring sneakers
Get ticket for annual business meeting/lunch | read minutes now
Get tickets for division luncheons

Concrete is the world’s most popular building material, but the material’s durability deteriorates over years allowing for potentially devastating consequences. One researcher from Delft University of Technology, Henk Jonkers, has made it his mission to combat this issue by developing a “living concrete.”

Jonkers’ development has produced a new type of concrete that can fix its own cracks by using a bacteria healing agent.

“We are combining nature with construction materials,” said Jonkers.

(more…)

The liquid metal antenna can be tuned to listen to various frequencies by applying electrical voltage.
Image: Jacob Adams/NCSU

The scientific community has been trying to tap into the potential of liquid metals for some time now, but have faced roadblocks in developing something that is highly efficient when paired with electronics. Now, North Carolina State University researchers have successfully designed a liquid metal antenna controlled by only electrical voltage.

The work is relatively simple in theory. A positive voltage applied to a liquid metal will make it expand, whereas the application of a negative voltage will make it contract.

“Our antenna prototype using liquid metal can tune over a range of at least two times greater than systems using electronic switches,” said Jacob Adams, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NCSU.

(more…)

Top 30* includes student chapters such as the Research Triangle Student Chapter. Officers include Isvar Cordova, Dominica H. C. Wong, James Daubert, and Marty Dufficy.

“I joined ECS because of its reputation in the field of electrochemistry and its focus on supporting its members. While a member of ECS, I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with experts in the field of electrochemistry that I would not have been able to do if I was not an ECS member. ECS provides opportunities for students to not only interact with local electrochemists, but to also travel to international meetings to meet and talk with experts in the field.”

James Daubert, PhD student
North Carolina State University

ECS staff recently analyzed membership data to determine which universities had the greatest presence within the society. Here is what we discovered:

 Top 30* Universities by ECS Student Members

(more…)

ECS’s job board keeps you up-to-date with the latest career opportunities in electrochemical and solid state science. Check out the latest openings that have been added to the board.

P.S. Employers can post open positions for free!

Senior Manager, External Technology
Energizer – Westlake, Ohio
Candidate is required to establish agreements and negotiate contracts with technology leaders including companies (public, private and start-up) and universities and national laboratories. Contracts will be vetted internally with line management and legal prior to executing.

Electrochemistry Senior Engineer
Johnson Controls – Milwaukee, WI
The electrochemists uses his/her knowledge and understanding of the chemical and/or electrochemical processes that occur during the conversion of materials in the active masses of a battery, and how these phenomena affect battery performance under different applications, to recommend design or component changes to target performance specifications.

(more…)