“The Creative Brain”
Roger Beaty | Psychology
What makes some people more creative than others? I will explore this question from a neuroscience perspective, presenting findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research that uses machine learning of brain data to predict a person's ability to come up with original ideas. The findings indicate that creative ability is characterized by cooperation between brain networks that do not typically cooperate, providing insight into the wiring of the creative brain with potential implications for creativity in the arts, sciences, and everyday life.
“3D Printing with Lignin”
Steve Chmely | Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Lignin is a polymer produced by terrestrial plants that can be converted into chemicals and products by biorefining. Although many researchers have tried and failed to “make money from lignin” over the past century, its heterogenous structure presumably makes it ill-suited as a platform for new materials. My presentation will showcase our group’s successes using it in 3D printing, and I will highlight our path towards 100% renewable feedstocks for additive manufacturing.