This talk explores the role that materials and advanced manufacturing can play in African development. Following a brief historical perspective of the importance of materials and manufacturing research and education in sustainable development, the talk presents examples of how to leverage Africa’s materials and energy resources in the sustainable development of Africa. In the first set of...
Computational science has benefited for many decades from the algorithms and the hardware that have made it one of the greatest accelerators of research, with results and impact that run deep in science and technology The key challenges that it faces are those of predictive accuracy, with simulations able to capture the quantum nature of electrons and nuclei; of realistic complexity, aiming to...
Living in Africa comes with unique challenges and opportunities, requiring creative ways to live and survive. This fluid intelligence is needed in science and in addressing global challenges. From her complex soils and water ways to diversity in climate and people, Africa presents a unique combination of parameters that make her a fountain of innovation and creativity. Bureaucracy,...
Aramid nanofibers (ANFs), discovered at the University of Michigan, are a breakthrough nanomaterial derived from recycled Kevlar—a widely used polymer in military and transportation applications. By repurposing Kevlar, ANFs offer a sustainable pathway to create high-performance nanoscale membranes with transformative potential in energy storage and water purification technologies. ANF...
Targeted need: The escalating global climate crisis is primarily attributed to the excessive carbon emissions on our planet. Carbon sequestration is the capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide and offers a potential solution to this crisis. This project is developing a scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technology for CO2+ sequestration. With this approach STL will...
In 2070 the world will be inhabited by 11 billion people. One of the main problems, humanity will have to face is the sustainability of its materials production and consumption. By then, close to 1 billion tons of plastic will be produced yearly. Even if all polymers were to be bio-sourced and bio-degradable, there would still be a huge sustainability challenge both in terms of sourcing (to...
To mitigate the climate change and reach a carbon neutral society before it is too late, a mix of sustainable energy technologies are needed. In this talk I will present research from my group in the area of sustainable batteries beyond Li ion, green H2 from the electrolysis of biomass derivatives as well as fuel cells free of Pt electrocatalysts for the cathodic reaction.
Batteries will...
Innovation in Science and Technology is at the core of long-term economic development. The primary focus of economists has been on its impact on productivity. In this lecture, I explain the potential of scientific innovation to profoundly shape governments and the social infrastructure of African countries, which is the most effective mechanism for sustained economic prosperity. For...
