#25 - Arend van der Zande: Nanotechnology, Everything is a Wave, and Moore's Law

Arend van der Zande is a Mechanical Engineering professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he focuses on nanomaterials research.  Dr. van der Zande is known for his work on nanomaterials research, and in this conversation, he will share his insights on the field and his unique approach to research. As a professor and human being, Arend is driven by curiosity and a desire to constantly learn and discover. He believes that true science is about feeling your way through a dark room and that the best discoveries are often made by following your nose and letting your curiosity guide you. We start by discussing the tools of nanotechnology and the mechanics of nanomaterials, and how these materials are changing the way we think about technology. Dr. van der Zande shares his thoughts on the hype cycle of new materials and the importance of creativity in research. He also shares his personal journey in the field and how he follows his curiosity to find new breakthroughs. Dr. van der Zande talks about the importance of not going straight to graduate school and the value of following your nose to find your passion. We also discuss the importance of figuring out how to push and move beyond Moore's Law through neuromorphic computing, and how these technologies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We end with a discussion of his favorite TV shows and books, and his thoughts on science fiction. Join us in this fascinating conversation with Dr. Arend van der Zande on the UIUC Talkshow.   EPISODE LINKS: Arend van der Zande's UIUC Website: https://ece.illinois.edu/about/directory/faculty/arendv OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:30 - Nanomaterials 4:20 - Tools of nanotechnology 6:18 - "Everything is a wave" 7:17 - The mechanics of nanomaterials 15:30 - From the lab to the consumer 17:05 - How van der Zande got started 20:50 - The hype cycle of new materials 24:10 - Creativity in research 29:37 - Following your nose and the rest will follow 34:00 - Don't go straight to Grad School 37:35 - Follow your curiosity and everything will be fine 39:30 - Are there limits to curiosity? 45:49 - Beyond Moore's Law and Neuromorphic Computing 53:11 - Favorite TV Shows 56:00 - Favorite Book 58:25 - Science fiction 1:03:35 - Mentors 🚥Overrated or Underrated Section 🚥 1:07:44 - 🐜  Ant-Man & Marvel Movies 1:11:15 - 🏫 Cornell University 1:18:08 - Suggestion to the UIUC Talkshow 1:21:00 - Closing Words SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uiuctalkshow Twitter: https://twitter.com/uiuctalkshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uiuctalkshow Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ezoc4xJa4DrGq7N4lhqQn Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-uiuc-talkshow/id1611427075 Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXqdyEq7fuyUz9cmpdfqN1Rb What is the UIUC Talkshow? Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas from the UIUC campus. Learn more about Juan David & Aaryaman: Aaryaman https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaryaman-patel-779437205/ Juan David Website: https://www.juandavidcampolargo.com/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdcampolargo  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdcampolargo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdcampolargo/