Science and Technology on a Mission at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Abstract
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), located in the East Bay Area of California, is colloquially known as the ’big ideas lab’ within the U.S. national laboratory space. LLNL earned this name because, since its formation in 1952, the lab was founded on the principles of advancing multidisciplinary, team driven, and audacious science that could impact society at large. Although being founded at the end of WWII with the exclusive goal of ensuring nuclear deterrence, the lab is actively involved in many non-nuclear science efforts to address future, and current challenges in climate change, energy storage, advanced and additive manufacturing for industries, and biology resilience and threat awareness. In order to be able to address these multi-faceted challenges, the lab must be able to flexibly propose solutions, redirect efforts, and capitalize on opportunities to advance the science forward in spite of whatever political bureaucratic changes may occur. This is only possible if an entrepreneurial mindset and cross-disciplinary team dynamics are cultivated. This talk will give an overview of the lab’s mission focus areas with some examples of current work occurring in the Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing, where I’m involved, that touch on expanding 3D printing methods, polymer materials synthesis and process optimization.
About the speaker
Catherine G. Reyes is a staff research scientist within the Responsive & Active Materials and Manufacturing (RAMM) group in the Materials Engineering Divison at LLNL. She is interested in projects that explore and challenge how hybrid and colloidal materials are made, focusing on where they can aid in climate and global security mission priorities. To this end, with a background in soft matter science and chemistry, Catherine’s usual workday involves collaborating with engineers across the division to achieve material goals by exploiting advanced and additive manufacturing processes within the Center of Engineered Materials and Manufacturing (CEMM). She often contributes to projects at the interface of biology, engineering and chemistry. In 2022 Catherine led a 9-month study to modernize DNA tagged aerosols useful for understanding aerosol transport in various environments. More recently, she has contributed to developing formulations for creating shape changing anisotropic materials. Catherine has also been the chair of the LLNL American Physical Society (APS) Chapter (2022-2024) and supports efforts encouraging the inclusion of people of color, LGBTQIA+ and other disenfranchised minorities to be part of the broad STEM community. Catherine earned a Ph.D in chemistry from the University of Luxembourg in 2019, and both bachelors and masters degrees from Cornell University (2008-2014).
We invite you to follow the seminar online in case you cannot make it in person.
- Meeting number: 2795 382 1773
- Meeting password: AsSnr5ATS43