Seminar Materials & Structure SS 25

• Pelz Lab website
• Studon Link

1 Tips for Giving a Great Seminar Presentation

1.1 Preparing Your Presentation

• Understand Your Audience
  Keep in mind that your audience consists of undergraduate students who may not be familiar with complex technical details. Aim for clarity and accessibility.

• Structure Your Presentation Clearly
  A good presentation should have:

  • Introduction – Briefly introduce the topic and why it matters.
  • Main Content – Explain key concepts, methods, and applications.
  • Case Studies or Examples – Provide real-world examples to keep the audience engaged.
  • Conclusion – Summarize key takeaways and open the floor for discussion.

• Use Visuals Effectively

  • Include diagrams, charts, and images to explain complex concepts.
  • Avoid cluttered slides—less text, more visuals.
  • Use consistent fonts and colors to maintain readability.

• Practice Your Timing

  • Keep your presentation within the allotted time (typically 10-20 minutes).
  • Rehearse in front of a friend or a mirror to refine your delivery.

1.2 Delivering Your Presentation

• Speak Clearly and Confidently
  • Avoid reading directly from slides or notes.
  • Maintain a steady pace and use pauses for emphasis.
• Engage with Your Audience
  • Make eye contact instead of staring at your slides.
  • Ask rhetorical questions or invite short interactions to keep attention high.
• Manage Nervousness
  • Take deep breaths before starting.
  • Use hand gestures naturally to emphasize points.
  • Remember, the audience is there to learn—not to judge you!

1.3 Handling Questions and Discussions

• Be Prepared for Questions
  • Anticipate potential questions and have extra information ready.
  • If you don’t know the answer, admit it and suggest ways to find out.
• Encourage Participation
  • Ask the audience their thoughts or experiences related to the topic.
  • Use real-world scenarios to spark discussion.

1.4 Technical Aspects to Consider

• Test Your Equipment
  • Make sure your slides work on the presentation system in advance.
  • Have a backup plan (e.g., printed notes or USB drive).
• Use a Strong Opening and Closing
  • Start with a compelling hook—a question, statistic, or short story.
  • End with a strong statement or a thought-provoking idea.

1.5 Final Reminders

• Stay Within the Time Limit – Respect the audience’s time.
• Keep It Simple – Don’t overload slides with unnecessary details.
• Have Fun! – Passion and enthusiasm make a big difference.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to deliver a clear, engaging, and impactful seminar presentation. Good luck!

2 Possible Topics

2.1 Popular Science Books on Materials Science

2.1.1 General Materials Science

1. Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World – Mark Miodownik
   A fascinating exploration of the materials that define our world, from glass to chocolate, written by a materials scientist.

2. The New Science of Strong Materials: Or Why You Don’t Fall Through the Floor – J.E. Gordon
   A classic introduction to how materials work, explaining why some materials are strong and others are not.

3. Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down – J.E. Gordon
   A fun and informative look at the physics of structures, from bridges to bones.

4. Made to Measure: New Materials for the 21st Century – Philip Ball
   Explores how scientists are designing new materials at the molecular level for future applications.

5. Materials: A Very Short Introduction – Christopher Hall
   A concise and accessible overview of materials science, from their atomic structure to everyday applications.

6. The Science and Engineering of Materials – Donald R. Askeland & Wendelin J. Wright
   A comprehensive yet readable textbook covering the fundamental principles of materials science.

2.1.2 Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials

7. Plenty of Room for Everyone: Nanotechnology in the Marketplace – Luis E. Liz-Marzán
   Examines the real-world applications of nanotechnology and how it is transforming industries.

8. Soft Machines: Nanotechnology and Life – Richard A.L. Jones
   Explores the connections between nanotechnology and biological systems.

9. Molecular Machines: The Story of Nanotechnology – Philip Ball
   A deep dive into how scientists are building tiny machines at the molecular scale.

10. Nanotechnology for Dummies – Earl Boysen & Nancy C. Muir
    A beginner-friendly guide to the science and potential of nanotechnology.

11. The Nanotech Pioneers: Where Are They Taking Us? – Steven A. Edwards
    Discusses the history and future of nanotechnology, including its ethical and societal implications.

2.1.3 Metamaterials & Smart Materials

12. The Magic of Metamaterials – Jürgen Stampfl, Richard W. Siegel, and Hans J. Fecht
    Explains how metamaterials with unique properties are changing science and engineering.

13. Metamaterials: Physics and Engineering Explorations – Nader Engheta & Richard W. Ziolkowski
    A technical yet engaging overview of how metamaterials manipulate electromagnetic waves.

14. Smart Materials and Structures – M. V. Gandhi & B. S. Thompson
    Covers materials that change properties in response to external stimuli, like shape-memory alloys.

2.1.4 History & Social Impact of Materials Science

15. The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another – Ainissa Ramirez
    Shows how materials have shaped human history and culture in surprising ways.

16. Why Things Break: Understanding the World by the Way It Comes Apart – Mark E. Eberhart
    A look at the science of failure in materials, from airplane crashes to crumbling buildings.

17. The Substance of Civilization: Materials and Human History from the Stone Age to the Age of Silicon – Stephen L. Sass
    Explores the history of materials and how they have driven human progress.

18. The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age – David S. Abraham
    Examines the role of rare metals in modern technology and the geopolitical challenges of securing them.

2.2 Materialism Podcast

2.2.1 Fundamentals & Classic Materials Science Topics

19. Episode 95: You Don’t Know Anything About Steel
    Steel is foundational to engineering and an excellent topic for materials science students.

20. Episode 97: Titanium
    A widely used material in aerospace and medical fields, great for discussing material properties and applications.

21. Episode 91: High Entropy Alloys
    A modern and rapidly evolving topic in metallurgy, providing insights into novel materials design.

22. Episode 99: Bulk Metallic Glasses
    A fascinating and relatively new class of materials that challenges conventional metallurgy.

23. Episode 93: An Introduction to Pyrometallurgy
    Covers essential metallurgical processes, useful for students interested in materials processing.

24. Episode 92: The Quest for Pure Uranium
    Offers historical and scientific insights into materials purification, with real-world impact.

2.2.2 Emerging & Advanced Materials

25. Episode 94: An Introduction to Quantum Materials
    Covers cutting-edge materials with applications in computing and electronics.

26. Episode 96: Spark Ablation with VSParticle
    An advanced materials processing technique, great for discussing nanomaterials.

27. Episode 86: PHAs and Biodegradable Plastic
    Sustainability is a huge topic in materials science, and PHAs are a great case study.

28. Episode 101: All About Biomatter
    Discusses innovative ways to create materials from biological sources, tying into sustainability.

29. Episode 81: New Materials for Carbon Capture
    Addresses a major environmental challenge through materials innovation.

30. Episode 88: Accelerating Materials Discovery with Microsoft
    Explores the intersection of machine learning and materials science.

2.2.3 Processing & Manufacturing Techniques

31. Episode 67: Additive Manufacturing at General Electric
    Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a hot topic with broad applications.

32. Episode 35: Spark Plasma Sintering
    A widely used technique for material densification with interesting scientific principles.

33. Episode 79: Cryogenic Milling at Cal Nano
    A unique and lesser-known method for altering material properties through extreme cooling.

2.2.4 Engineering Failures & Case Studies

34. Episode 90: The Big Dig Incident
    Examines the consequences of material selection errors, making it a strong case study for engineering ethics.

35. Episode 45: Was the Challenger an Engineering Failure?
    A major historical failure with deep material science implications.

36. Episode 42: What Really Sunk the Titanic?
    A mix of history and materials science, great for an engaging presentation.

37. Episode 26: When Materials Failure Leads to Wildfire
    Covers the role of materials science in preventing large-scale disasters.

References