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.

Everyday items like tea bags and sponges are being reimagined in the lab of Northwestern University’s Vinayak Dravid, who is using nanotechnology to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. In this episode he explains how his team is using nanotechnology to remove toxic metals in water with brewed tea leaves and soaking up oil spills using a special sponge he invented, and many more ways he is leveraging nature's chemistry and nanotechnology to help solve global problems.

Once a postdoctoral fellow with Chad Mirkin here at Northwestern University, Jarad Mason now leads his own research group within the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University where his research includes investigating the potential of nanoparticle-loaded water to extend organ viability for transplantation. In this episode he discusses the balance between academia and industry in pushing scientific boundaries, as well as the future directions of his research in energy, sustainability, and biomedical applications.