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           COLLOQUIUM OF THE COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE CENTER
                             College of Science
                      (CDS Department CSI 898-Sec 001)
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                 Bio-inspired Materials and Processes

                         Leonard J. Buckley
       Materials Chemistry Branch, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC


Bio-inspiration in materials science has become a common theme for the
design and synthesis of new materials.  Nature uses hierarchical structure to
enable the surprising physical properties observed in natural compounds.
Recently there has been a change in the paradigm of how materials are used in
designing optical systems by emulating the way Nature designs optical lenses
in the eyes of various creatures. This scientific thrust has been called
bio-inspired optics and has recently generated significant interest in new
materials and material systems.  Creative approaches toward the dynamic
spatial and temporal control of the index of refraction using materials
chemistry and hierarchical material structure is one specific example that
will be discussed.  Another example is how Nature uses surface behavior to
manipulate hydrophobicity.  This has inspired the development of new coatings
that self-clean and decontaminate.  Nature has also inspired creative
approaches towards materials processing.  An example of using secondary
bonding to form complex molecular assemblies will be presented. 
                        
                          October 2, 4:30 pm
                   Room 301, Research I, Fairfax Campus

Refreshments will be served at 4:15 PM.
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Find the schedule at http://www.cmasc.gmu.edu/seminar/schedule.html
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