Taylor Sparks, a professor at the University of Utah and host of the Materialism Podcast, joins Colin McCormick, Principal Scientist at Carbon Direct and Georgetown professor, to delve into AI's role in materials innovation for clean energy. They discuss the challenges of data limitations and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in climate solutions. The conversation also touches on the risks of AI in materials science, emphasizing sustainable practices and balancing innovation with environmental concerns. The duo wraps up with intriguing book recommendations on technology and personal growth.
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insights INSIGHT
Materials Data Challenge
Poor quality and lack of consolidated materials data limit AI's effectiveness in materials innovation.
Advances in language models are starting to enable better extraction and use of materials data from literature.
insights INSIGHT
Interdisciplinary Collaboration Essential
Collaboration between materials scientists and natural language processing experts is key to leveraging AI effectively.
Early integration with industry helps assess manufacturing scalability and cost, improving AI application outcomes.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Hackathon Bridged Silos
Taylor Sparks held a hackathon to unite material chemists and data scientists tackling energy problems.
Many innovations emerge where distinct fields intersect, though jargon and silos hinder collaboration.
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Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Ashlee Vance
This book is an authorized biography that delves into the life of Elon Musk, from his tumultuous childhood in South Africa to his rise as a visionary entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Ashlee Vance captures Musk's journey through his various ventures, including PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. The book examines Musk's unique personality, his insatiable drive, and his ability to thrive through hardship. It also explores the broader context of American innovation and the challenges of global competition, positioning Musk as a contemporary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs.
Mauve
How One Man Invented a Colour That Changed the World
Simon Garfield
This book tells the story of William Perkin, an 18-year-old English chemist who accidentally discovered mauve in 1856 while trying to synthesize quinine. The discovery revolutionized the dye industry and had significant impacts on fashion and industrial chemistry. The book explores how Perkin's innovation transformed various aspects of society, including fashion trends and the development of the chemical industry.
How will you measure your life?
Clayton M. Christensen
In 'How Will You Measure Your Life?', Clayton M. Christensen, along with co-authors James Allworth and Karen Dillon, explores how business principles can be applied to personal life to achieve happiness and fulfillment. The book addresses three key questions: how to ensure happiness in one's career, how to build enduring relationships with family and friends, and how to maintain integrity. Christensen emphasizes the importance of allocating time and energy wisely, avoiding the trap of short-term gains, and focusing on long-term personal and relational investments. He also discusses the 'jobs to be done' concept, encouraging readers to understand and fulfill the emotional needs of those in their lives[2][4][5].
The Book of Mormon
Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Mormon and Moroni
Joseph Smith
The Book of Mormon is a scripture that tells the story of a group of Hebrews who migrated from Jerusalem to the Americas around 600 BCE. It describes their history, including their division into two main groups: the Nephites and the Lamanites. The book emphasizes the appearance of Jesus Christ to these people after his resurrection, where he teaches them and establishes his church. It also discusses various doctrinal topics such as the fall of Adam and Eve, the nature of God, baptism, and the importance of faith and repentance. The book ends with Moroni's testimony and an invitation to readers to come unto Christ and be perfected in him[1][3][5].
Noble Obsession
Charles Slack
A Perfect Red
Amy Butler Greenfield
A Perfect Red recounts the story of cochineal, a precious red dye used by ancient Mexicans and later sought after by European powers. The book explores the intrigue, empire-building, and adventure that unfolded over three centuries as various nations competed for control of this valuable commodity. It blends history, science, and culture to tell the saga of this influential dye.
Can AI help discover new materials, leading to dramatic breakthroughs in clean energy technologies? In Episode #1 of our deep dive on this topic, host David Sandalow explored the potential for breakthroughs with Taylor Sparks, a professor at the University of Utah and host of the Materialism Podcast, and Colin McCormick, Principal Scientist at Carbon Direct, a professor at Georgetown University and author of the materials innovation chapter in the Artificial Intelligence for Climate Change Mitigation Roadmap (Second Edition). In this episode, David, Taylor and Colin discuss the barriers that must be overcome to realize that potential as well as possible risks. The episode ends with some interesting book recommendations by Taylor and Colin!
The AI, Energy and Climate Podcast is a special series from the DSR Network sponsored by NEDO and hosted by David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.
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