Dr. Ainissa Ramirez Presents Seminar

Fri., Feb 01

The Southern Connecticut State University (2012-13) PAcE Seminar Series Presents:

Dr. Ainissa Ramirez ~ "Changing the World (with STEM)"
February 1, 2013, 1:05 to 1:55 PM
Engleman C112

* Supported by a National Science Foundation Grant *

Ainissa Ramirez is a science evangelist and science lecturer, passionate about getting kids of all ages excited about science. In this presentation, Dr. Ramirez will give an inspirational talk on what is STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and how you can change the world with it. She will discuss women and African-American science role models that have made great strides, and present on how any student can use STEM to do important work. Dr. Ramirez will highlight some of her materials science research and discuss the hot science fields of nanotechnology (the world of the small and curious), which will be part of our everyday lives in the near future.

Ramirez is dedicated to sharing the joy of materials, process and creativity with students of all ages. At Yale University, she is the founder of the award-winning science lecture series for children called "Science Saturdays." She has served as a science advisor to WGBH/NOVA, National Geographic, Time Magazine, and the American Film Institute.

Prior to taking on the call to improve science understanding, she was an associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Yale, leading a research program in smart materials and nanomaterials. She has published several book chapters, scores of scientific articles and holds nine patents. Her research has been awarded the Sloan Research Fellowship and the NSF CAREER award. Prior to working at Yale, Ramirez was a member of technical staff (MTS) at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J, where she developed a universal solder (a reactive solder that bonds to glass) for which she was awarded MIT's Technology Review TR100 award. She later founded a company, called Adhera Technologies, which commercializes this invention.

Ramirez received her training in materials science and engineering from Brown University (Sc.B.) and Stanford University (Ph.D.).

In 2012, she spoke at TED about the importance of STEM education.