Donaldson Lectures
The Donaldson Lecture Series is an exciting interdisciplinary
educational opportunity for graduate students and upper-division
undergraduates. This lecture series, which began in March 2004,
brings distinguished researchers to campus who will speak on interdisciplinary
topics in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical
engineering, and physics. The series is funded by a gift from Donaldson
Company.
The lecture series is free. For more information contact Professor Joachim Heberlein
at 612-625-4538 or jvrh@me.umn.edu.
2005–06 series
Professor Steven Vogel
James B. Duke Professor, Department of Biology
Duke University
From Flower Stems to Feather Shafts: Twisting in the Wind Without Getting Bent Out of Shape
Tuesday, November 15
1:25 p.m., B75 Amundson Hall
Bear Bones and Ferrous Wheels: When Might Nature Be Worth Copying?
Wednesday, November 16
4:00 p.m., 2-650 Moos Tower
 Steven Vogel joined the Duke faculty in 1966 after receiving his doctorate at Harvard. While a biologist by training and inclination, he looks at mechanical factors behind the designs of organisms, in particular their fluid dynamic devices. He has, for instance, considered the aerodynamics of especially small insects; convective cooling of broad leaves in near-still air and at drag minimization of the same leaves in storm-level winds; ways in which organisms from sponges to burrowing rodents use velocity gradients induce flows through themselves or their domiciles; and ways in which organisms such as squid and whales use flow-induced pressures to re-expand their mantle and oral cavities.
In addition he has written articles for a variety of popular magazines as well as several books. The latter include a textbook on biological fluid dynamics (Life in Moving Fluids), a more general book on biomechanics (Life's Devices), and a less academic book on circulatory systems (Vital Circuits). Two books explore the intersections of biomechanics, human technology, and human culture—Cats' Paws and Catapults compares the mechanical technologies of humans and of nature, while Prime Mover looks at how the performance of muscle as an engine has shaped human history and prehistory. He has recently published an undergraduate textbook, Comparative Biomechanics.
Professor Arun Majumdar
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
University of California at Berkeley
Fluid and Thermal Transport in Nanostructured Materials and Devices
Tues., Feb. 21
4:00 p.m., Digital Technology Center, 402 Walter Library
Refreshments will be available before the lecture in 401 Walter Library
Fluid and Thermal Transport in Nanostructured Materials and Devices
Tues., Feb. 21
4:00 p.m., Digital Technology Center, 402 Walter Library
Refreshments will be available before the lecture in 401 Walter Library
ABSTRACT: The fundamental length scales related to flow of heat in solids and ions and molecules in liquids fall in the range of 1-100 nm. In the first part of my talk, I will focus on how confinement of aqueous solutions in the range of Debye screening length can lead to formation of unipolar ionic solutions. The ionic current in this regime is found to be extremely sensitive to surface charge, which can be used to study surface biomolecular reactions. Furthermore, this phenomenon can be exploited to develop nanofluidic transistors and integrated circuits, which is now forming the basis for analyzing complex mixtures of biomolecules in picoliter volumes. In the second part of the talk, I will focus on how phonons in solids can be manipulated in low-dimensional structures. In particular, I will report our effort in reducing thermal transport in crystalline solids below the alloy limit by carefully selecting nanostructures for spectrally broadband phonon scattering. This fundamental understanding is critical in the development of solid-state energy conversion devices, which could have impact in the way energy is utilized and converted.
Technology and the Global Population: Is the World Really Flat?
Wed., Feb. 22
4:00 p.m., 2-650 Moos Tower
A reception will follow in the Dale Shephard Room, Campus Club, Coffman Union
ABSTRACT: If one asks the question: What was the most important invention of the 20th century, the predictable answer may come as airplanes, computers, television, nuclear energy etc. They are certainly the ones that catch the headlines and affect people like you and I. At the turn of the century, however, an analysis by Nature suggested that if the criterion is based on human well-being of the whole world population, the answer is quite different. Hence, if we accept this criterion, one may ask: What are the demographics of the world population now and, say 50 years from now, and do the icons of modern technology really address the needs of the world? Clearly, information technology has made the world flatter, as some have correctly claimed, but that is only part of the story. There are many other technologies where the world is far from flat because people just don’t have access to them due to a variety of reasons. However, if we project ourselves in the future and understand the mismatch between current technologies and the needs of the world population, one can identify both business and scientific opportunities beyond the obvious humanitarian aspects. In this talk, I will attempt to make this case using nanotechnology as an example.
Both lectures are free. For more information contact Professor Joachim V.R. Heberlein (612-625-4538 or jvrh@me.umn.edu).
Previous Donaldson Lectures
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