Science with Samantha: Recent Episodes
Samantha
Samantha having conversations with people she finds interesting in a wide range of different sciences. Join her in learning about new topics and developments in varying research fields. Furthermore, she loves talking about the future and philosophy. Samantha is currently an Electrical Engineering undergraduate at TU Delft and Alumna at Georgia Tech and CERN with publications under her name.
In this enlightening episode, Dr. Ilke Ercan and Samantha discussed preparing students for the quantum computing era and the importance of education in engineering. Quantum computing is a multidisciplinary upcoming field that will need both expertise in Physics and Electrical Engineering. Ilke explained what the initiatives are to bridge the gap. One of the initiatives is developing educational games explaining concepts such as quantum logic gates. Ilke and Samantha then discussed which level of abstraction of quantum physics is relevant to the users and for which age groups it's targeted. Furthermore, they talked about the separation between computer science and electrical engineering and how the same trend is going to happen for quantum computing. Finally, Ilke recommended to Samantha the book 'Happy Teachers Change the World'.
Dr. Ilke Ercan is the Electrical Engineering Principal Educator in the department of Microelectronics at TU Delft. She has a background in electrical and computer engineering, physics, and philosophy of science. She has founded and directed the quantum and nano computing systems research group at Bogazici University and is involved with starting initiatives that empower minorities such as the Foundations development program and recently, the IEEE women+ in engineering at TU Delft.
In this futuristic episode, Professor Manos Tentzeris and Samantha discussed what is needed to realize a smart city and how Prof. Tentzeris’ ATHENA research group is bringing it closer than ever before. Key technologies that are involved are low-cost and near-zero power additive manufactured sensors, inkjet printed antennas and energy harvesters, and machine learning. Then Tentzeris explained how 4D printing works and how it is becoming scalable with tile-by-tile structures. 4D printing is valuable for 5G networks, energy harvesting, smart cities, and smart agriculture. Furthermore, we discussed how to harness all the IoT data with machine learning, how to make the connection secure with hardware fingerprints, and removing the batteries by energy harvesting modules. Finally, Professor Tentzeris and Samantha talked about what the future will look like for augmented reality and soft robots and he gave interesting book recommendations.
Manos Tentzeris is Ken Byers Professor in flexible electronics in the school of electrical and computer engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the head of the ATHENA research group which develops novel technologies for electromagnetic, wireless, RF, mm-wave, and sub-THz applications by using inkjet-printed electronics, nano structures, and 3D printing to name a few.
This episode has been recorded at Technical University Eindhoven.
In this information-packed episode, Samantha and Professor Martijn Heck discussed photonic integration. Professor Heck started by explaining how integrated photonics developed out of photonics, his role in pioneering this technology, how it rose up in California, and the role of Intel back then. Then we discussed the inner workings and fabrication of an integrated photonic circuit which relies heavily on solid-state physics. Furthermore, we discussed the link between photonics and quantum computing and why these fields should collaborate and discuss roadmaps together which is why the Hendrik Casimir Institute has been founded. Then we discussed the implications of exponential technologies, where the integrated circuit is a well-known example, and what the exponential roadmap of integrated photonics looks like. Finally, Professor Heck discussed how integrated photonics needs people that are both knowledgeable in physics and electrical engineering end ended with a book recommendation called 'the singularity'.
Martijn Heck is an Electrical Engineering professor in the Photonics Integration group at Technical University Eindhoven and Scientific Director of the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute. Additionally, he founded the Photonics Integrated Circuits group at Aarhus University in Denmark and is still a part-time group leader there.
This episode has been recorded in the FELIX Laboratory at Radboud University Nijmegen.
To know more about FELIX: https://www.ru.nl/felix/, a 360° virtual tour of the laboratory: https://virtualtours.360totaal.nl/tour/hfml-felix.
Samantha and Sandra were seated at a distance with masks on.
In this episode, Samantha and Assistant Professor Sandra Brünken discussed the field of astrochemistry and astrophysics in both the lab setting and observing it in space for understanding the origin of the universe and life. Then we went over how spectroscopy works and why it plays a big role in these fields. After that, Sandra explained why a Free Electron Laser (e.g. at the FELIX Laboratory ) is so helpful for spectroscopy experiments. After that, we delved into Sandra's previous work in Cologne, Harvard, and EPFL where she contributed to different branches of astrochemistry and her current work at FELIX with her ion trap instrument. Samantha asked Sandra some questions about current developments in the astrochemistry field such as phosphene which could indicate possible life in Venus and her Nature paper about the age of cloud-forming of sun-like stars. Finally, Samantha asked Sandra what the process would be to get access to the Free Electron Laser at FELIX and what book Sandra has read that made an impression on her.
Sandra Brünken is an Assistant professor of the FELIX Laboratory at Radboud University in Nijmegen. She has made major contributions in her research fields which are astrochemistry and astrophysics with a nature publication under her name. Now she is at the Free Electron Laser Laboratory at Radboud university (FELIX) to continue her research.
In this information-packed episode, Samantha and Professor Klaas landsman discussed fundamental physics and interpreting the mathematical outcomes of our physical world. We discussed the classical realm versus the quantum realm, string theory, the many-worlds interpretation, the multiverse and, the problems that rise up when finding the unified theory of our universe. Furthermore, Professor Landsman explains the big challenges of bridging the gap between quantum field theory and Einstein's general relativity and why black holes are such interesting physical phenomena with their event horizon. For finding the theory of everything, Professor Landsman came to the conclusion that the fundamental problem lies in the interpretation of probability which governs quantum theory. Finally, Samantha asked Professor Landsman about the writing process between scientific text books versus books for the general audience and a book that stayed with him the most.
Professor Klaas Landsman is a Professor of Mathematical Physics at Radboud University Nijmegen and a writer of two books for the general audience: A Requiem for Newton and In All Probability. His research deal with the connection between quantum physics (Bohr, Heisenberg, and Schrödinger) and classical physics (Newton, Maxwell and, Einstein). He has recently finished a scientific textbook about black holes and has written two other textbooks on quantum mechanics.
[PS: there seems to be some distortion in the first 5 minutes. After that, the audio is all clear]
In this episode, Samantha and Professor Bart Smolders discussed the current state and future of 5G and 6G on the antenna side. Then we talked about his EM research group at TU Eindhoven and phased array antenna technology and its applications. The EM research group is also experimenting with integrated photonics. Furthermore, we discussed the academic and commercial side of Electrical engineering. Finally, Samantha asked about the responsibilities of being the Dean of the Electrical Engineering department and how Bart manages his busy days.
Professor Bart Smolders is chair of the Electromagnetics group (EM) and is Dean of Electrical Engineering at Technical University Eindhoven. Bart's team is collaborating on a number of large European and national projects. His key area of expertise is antenna systems and microwave engineering.
In this very first episode, Samantha and Fred discuss the importance and large presence of wireless communication technologies. Then they went over the development of 5G and 6G and what it would mean for future power amplifiers. They also discussed new upcoming technologies such as IoT, nuclear energy, AI, and quantum computers. Finally, they ended up marveling at the Electrical Engineering field.
Fred has his Bachelors's, master's, and Ph.D. from TU Delft and has worked in semiconductor enterprises ever since. Given his long experience and wide skillset, he is regarded as the main innovation expert in his current company. He is also a big fan of science fiction and fundamental physics.