Human existence is, to a large extent, defined by the materials we use, a fact that is evident in the way we categorize parts of human history into periods such as the Stone Age or the Bronze Age. The materials that we are able to produce and manipulate also shape us in the process. Leaps in technology throughout history correlate strongly with the discovery of new materials, and today much of material science is done on a molecular and atomic level. Nanotechnology is already reshaping the world in different ways. But researchers are also finding new ways to evolve and enhance "old" materials, such as wood and other biological materials. What are the new materials that will enable technological leaps in the next few years? What aspects of materials are most interesting to researchers today? And how does material science shape our future?

Guests in the studio:

Niklas Hedin, Professor at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Stockholm University

Anna Delin, Professor in Computational Nanomagnetism at the School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Ulrica Edlund, Associate Professor in Polymer Technology at the School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

On Skype: Haseeb Ahmed, Research-based american artist, currently living and working between Brussels and Zurich

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Crosstalks – Where great minds meet!
Crosstalks is an international academic talk show, broadcast once a month by two of Sweden’s top universities – KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University. It is a platform for discussions on global challenges in an open and on-going dialogue with viewers around the world. The tone of the programme is relaxed, with a twinkle in its eye: just like a good, engaging lecture.

You find all talks and more info at www.crosstalks.tv