Nanoscape: Exploring the Frontiers Ahead

• Building the Future, Atom-by-Atom, in the Nano Workshop

  What if the next industrial revolution is happening molecule-by-molecule? In this episode we explore this idea with Robert Macfarlane, PhD, a Northwestern alumni and MIT materials scientist who is pioneering programmable materials that self-assemble and respond to their environment. Macfarlane explains how his work moves beyond DNA-based assembly to create scalable nanomaterials with real-world potential—from flexible electronics and biomedical devices to photonic materials that manipulate light. Guest: Robert J. Macfarlane, Richard P. Simmons (1953) Professor in Metallurgy, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Hosts: Seth Zimmerman, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, IIN and Erin Spain, MS, Podcaster and Science Communicator

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• Can Bacteria Eat Our Plastic Problem? A Chat with Dr. Ludmilla Aristilde

  Dr. Ludmilla Aristilde is an expert in environmental chemistry, environmental biochemistry, and bioengineering, but at the heart of it all is nanoscience. In this episode of Nanoscape Atistilde talks about her research, which includes discoveries in microplastics and nanoplastics and why nanoscience plays a key role in her research group's activities which aims to  gain a fundamental understanding of the "why" and "how" of the environmental behavior of organics, with implications for nutrient cycling, ecosystem health, agricultural productivity, and environmental biotechnology. Guest: Ludmilla Aristilde, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering,  Northwestern University Hosts: Seth Zimmerman, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, IIN and Erin Spain, MS, Podcaster and Science Communicat

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• The Scientist Who Thinks Like a Musician: Nicholas Peppas

  Professor Nicholas Peppas has spent five decades defining the field of medical nanotechnology and shaping the very foundations of modern drug delivery. He has been awarded the 2025 Kabiller Prize in nanoscience and nanomedicine by The International Institute for Nanotechnology. The $250,000 award — the world's largest monetary award in the field — recognizes his pioneering research, which has transformed how some of the world's most difficult diseases are treated. In this episode, Peppas talks about his influential career spanning over five decades and his journey from early polymer research to groundbreaking innovations like oral insulin delivery and his predictions for the future of nanomedicine.

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• Bankable Science: Turning Discovery into Durable Energy Tech with Ted Sargent

  Ted Sargent is a global leader in nanoscience and materials engineering, and his research at Northwestern University is advancing the field of solar energy harvesting by lowering its cost and increasing its efficiency by using nanoscale materials. His work also includes decarbonization in the chemical and fuel sectors alongside creating next-generation materials for consumer electronics. Sargent is the Lynn Hopton Davis and Greg Davis Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Executive Director, Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy   Guest: Ted Sargent Lynn Hopton Davis and Greg Davis Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Executive Director, Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy Hosts: Seth Zimmerman, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, IIN and Erin Spain, MS, Podcaster and Science Communicator

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• The Intersection of Nanoscience and Chemistry with Omar Farha, PhD

  At the intersection of nanoscience and chemistry, Omar Farha, PhD, Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University, is opening up new frontiers in climate resilience, water harvesting, catalysis and more through metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)—versatile structures he describes as smart programmable sponges. In this episode he talks about taking on the role of chair, the legacy of those who came before him at Northwestern and discusses how the IIN is uniquely positioned to continue leading the field of nanotechnology.

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