Protein Sponges, Soft Robots & Espresso Science

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Material Minds

INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials

14 episodes

1 week ago

What’s it like to spend a week surrounded by over 30 Nobel Laureates? In this episode of Material Minds, host Shrikrishnan Sankaran speaks with Anna, Delvina, and Mingren, three INM researchers selected to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2025 for chemistry.

From intense scientific debates on AI, sustainability, and green chemistry to casual dinners with Nobel winners, our guests share their firsthand experiences — the insights, the awkward moments, and the inspirations that will shape their future in science.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Three INM Scientists at Lindau
01:20 – Arriving on the Island of Nobel Laureates
04:00 – First Impressions and Funny Travel Stories
06:40 – Meeting the Laureates Over Coffee and Conversation
08:00 – Yoga, Talks, and the Daily Rhythm of Lindau
10:50 – Nobel Talks on AI, Chemistry, and Sustainability
15:30 – Debates on Green Chemistry and Future Batteries
17:00 – Next-Gen Energy: Lithium, Sodium, and Beyond
20:00 – AI and Biology: Insights from John Jumper
22:00 – How Nobel Laureates Choose Their PhD Students
25:00 – Open Exchanges: Work-Life Balance and Publication Pressures
30:00 – Equality, Curiosity, and the Human Side of Science
34:00 – Reflections: Luck, Persistence, and the Spirit of Discovery
35:45 – Closing: What Science Is Really About

To get to know what our host, Shrikrishnan Sankaran, does, check out his group's webpage – https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/research/research-groups/bioprogrammable-materials/
You can also find him on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/shrikrishnans.bsky.social), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrikrishnans/), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shirish.sankaran/)

To get to know more about M.Sc. Anna Burgstaller
https://www.leibniz-inm.de/mitarbeiter/m-sc-burgstaller-anna/

To get to know more about Dr.-Ing. Mingren Liu
https://www.leibniz-inm.de/mitarbeiter/dr-ing-liu-mingren/

To get to know more about Dr. Delvina Japhet Tarimo
https://www.leibniz-inm.de/mitarbeiter/dr-tarimo-delvina-japhet/

To get to know more about the Leibniz Institute for New Materials, visit us at https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/ or find us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/leibnizinm.bsky.social/), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/inm-leibniz-institute-for-new-materials/), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/leibniz_inm/)
Recording and editing by INM's communication designer, Lars Knaack – https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/staff/b-a-knaack-lars/
Editorial work: Dr. Gun Woo Park – https://www.leibniz-inm.de/mitarbeiter/dr-park-gun-woo/

🎧 More Material Minds episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiQEgil14LdZnHsEL9rXEmVTOE-y805tV
#SciencePodcast #LindauMeeting #NobelLaureates #GreenChemistry #AIinScience #LeibnizINM #MaterialMinds
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Life Sciences

Science

Protein Sponges, Soft Robots & Espresso Science

Material Minds

42 minutes 18 seconds

5 months ago

Protein Sponges, Soft Robots & Espresso Science

Join us on Material Minds as we delve into the groundbreaking world of protein-based Materials with Professor Luai R. Khoury from Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology!

Discover how Professor Khoury and his team are engineering revolutionary materials, including protein sponges with catalytic activity that remain active for extended periods. Learn about the fascinating development of origami-inspired soft robots designed to deliver drugs precisely within the body, reacting to physiological triggers like acidity and enzymes. Plus, prepare to be amazed by an innovative system for synthesizing functional protein microgels, ingeniously inspired by the process of brewing espresso! Could materials one day make their own decisions? Tune in to find out!

This episode is packed with insights into the future of biomaterials, from biomedical applications to potential uses in space and agriculture. Explore how advanced protein engineering, synthetic biology, and AI are converging to create truly intelligent materials.

To get to know what our host, Shrikrishnan Sankaran, does, check out his group's webpage – https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/research/research-groups/bioprogrammable-materials/

You can also find him on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/shrikrishnans.bsky.social), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrikrishnans/), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shirish.sankaran/)

To find out more about our Guest visit
https://materials.technion.ac.il/en/team/asst-prof-luai-khoury/

To get to know more about the Leibniz Institute for New Materials, visit us at https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/ or find us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/leibnizinm.bsky.social/), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/inm-leibniz-institute-for-new-materials/), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/leibniz_inm/)

Recording and editing by INM's communication designer, Lars Knaack – https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/staff/b-a-knaack-lars/

Editorial work: Dr. Gun Woo Park – https://www.leibniz-inm.de/mitarbeiter/dr-park-gun-woo/

🎧 More Material Minds episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiQEgil14LdZnHsEL9rXEmVTOE-y805tV

Material Minds