Open lecture by MIT professor Angela Belcher "Evolving Organisms to Give Life to Materials for Energy, the Environment and Medicine"

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Description

On September 12, 2019, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and researcher Angela Belcher will visit ITMO University with a lecture "Evolving Organisms to Give Life to Materials for Energy, the Environment and Medicine".

In her lecture, Angela Belcher, an eminent materials scientist, biological engineer, and the James Mason Crafts Professor of Biological Engineering and Materials Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will talk about one of the approaches to the development of controlled materials with modified properties of living organisms. The purpose of this research is to create a DNA sequence that would encompass the synthesis and production of any inorganic material. Hybrid multidimensional biological materials can be used to solve a wide range of scientific and technological problems in the field of electronics, environmental restoration, medicine and energy.

As of now, this technology is used in the development of new methods for manufacturing batteries, fuel and solar cells, carbon binding and storage, environmental restoration, catalysis, medical diagnostics and imaging. The lecturer will talk about the developed DOLPHIN imaging system (Detection of Optically Luminescent Probes using Hyperspectral and diffuse Imaging in Near-infrared), which allows for obtaining high-resolution images and deep visualization of the studied tissues on a non-invasive basis.

Angela Belcher is a professor of biological engineering and materials science with many years of experience in the field of biomaterials, biomolecular materials, organic-inorganic interfaces and solid state chemistry. The researcher's main scientific focus is the development of new materials for the energy sphere, electronics, the environment and medicine.

In 2002, the scientist founded the company Cambrios Technologies, Inc., and the company Siluria Technologies, Inc. in 2007. Prof. Belcher is a laureate of the prestigious Lemelson–MIT Prize, awarded for her cutting-edge research, as well as the ENI award in the field of renewable and alternative energy sources, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. 

The scientist pioneers the research in the field of genetic control of technologically important materials: Prof. Belcher-led research group at MIT conducts studies into genetically controlled materials, and is also working on non-invasive, deep, real-time imaging systems to search for, remove, and treat submillimeter tumors to increase patient lifespan in many different types of cancer.

Admission to the lecture is free. Registration (in Russian) is open until 23:00 on Wednesday, September 11

Participants

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Organizers

ITMO University