Mary Yess, ECS Deputy Executive Director & Chief Content Officer, and Logan Streu, ECS Content Associate and Assistant to the CCO, recently came across a great video series that addresses a hot button topic here at ECS: access.

Through our mission to disseminate content to the largest possible audience with as few barriers as possible and our move towards full open access publication, ECS is working to help change the nature of scientific communication itself.

However, sometimes these technical research papers do not tell the important scientific stories that the everyday reader needs to know. For ECS, the Redcat blog was the answer to that issue. For Johns Hopkins University, their series “Science: Out of the Box” focuses on translating complex scientific concepts into understandable and entertaining stories.

The iconic Moore’s Law will mark its 50th anniversary this Sunday, April 19th. In celebration, we’ll be taking a look at the solid state revolutionary who made the incredible prediction, the inception of the law, and the deep-rooted links between Gordon Moore and The Electrochemical Society.

The initial transformation in the electronics industry began with an invention at Bell Labs in late 1947 of a little device known as the transistor. The transistor acted as a catalyst of change not only for solid state science and the electronics industry, but also for the composition and spirit of ECS membership—which would begin to be centered on the Electronics Division.

Prior to this solid state surge, electronics—specifically the Electronics Division at ECS—was centered on topics such as phosphors and cathode ray tubes in light of the advent of television. Moore joined ECS in 1957 and helped transform the division into something new—something exciting.

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Yes, we’ve actually made electrochemical and solid state science themed trading cards.

At the 227th ECS Meeting in Chicago this May, we will be introducing our first set of Official ECS Major League Trading Cards featuring some of the greatest scientists in ECS related fields. This first batch of 50 includes some of the biggest movers and shakers in the field, past and present.

We are looking to give electrochemical and solid state science a wider exposure. Through these ECS cards, we hope to disseminate knowledge in an accessible and entertaining way.

With all of the amazing scientists in the field pioneering groundbreaking developments, it was hard for us to narrow our selection down to just 50. We hope to continue producing these cards—allowing us to highlight all of these incredible scientists.

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While you’ll have to collect and trade to get your hands on all 50 (they come in packs of 10), everyone attending the plenary session at the 227th Meeting will get his or her very own Allen J. Bard card in celebration of the first ever award presented in his name.

Want a set for yourself? Find us in Chicago and grab a pack. (Sorry, there’s no bubble gum included.)

Know who should be in the next batch? Give us your thoughts in the comments.

This year is shaping up to be a very green for the American energy sector. U.S. power emissions are expected to fall to a two-decade low in light of the year of “de-carbonization”.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports that CO₂ emissions from the power sector should drop to their lowest levels since 1994.

The factors most connect to this decline include:

• The instillation of more renewables than ever before—with around 18 new GW coming online.

• A record year for coal retirements—forecasting 23GW to come offline.

• The burning of more natural gas in 2015 than ever before.

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ECS member Shumin Fang was a contributor in a development that could dramatically improve the efficiency of batteries and fuel cells.
Image: Nature Communications

Sometimes the tiniest things could have the biggest impact—especially when it comes to battery technology.

New research from a collaborative team of engineers from Clemson University and the University of South Carolina developed a new material that could boost batteries’ power and help power plants.

ECS student member Shumin Fang of the University of South Carolina was a collaborator on the study. (Take a look at his paper on solid oxide fuel cells.)

The new material acts as a superhighway for ions, allowing for more powerful batteries and boosting the general efficiency of energy conversion.

Because batteries and fuel cells are limited by how fast ions can pass through the electrolyte, engineers must find a mix of electrolyte ingredients that allows for fast movement. This study proposes the answer to this in gadolinium doped ceria.

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“To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.”

FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
Image: FIRST

That is the mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). The organization aims to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, and you can see their engineering and innovative expertise live this Saturday as some of the brightest young minds go head-to-head in this robotics competition.

The competition theme for this year is “Recycle Rush,” where hundreds of high school students will compete for the title of FIRST Champion. The competition aids in inspiring young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in mentor-based programs that combine the excitement of a varsity sport with hands-on training in science and technology.

Check out the live stream Saturday, April 11th at 9am.

Only two weeks left!
Take advantage of early-bird registration today!

Register and book your hotel by April 24,2015 to get significant discount

Register online now!

Plenary Session
Join us for the ECS Lecture being given by John A. Turner from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His talk is entitled: “Hydrogen from Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting – What’s it gonna’ take?” Learn more about the plenary and to listen to a podcast with Dr. Turner.

Award Winners
The first Allen J. Bard Award winner is Henry White, Dean of the College of Science at the University of Utah. The Gordon E. Moore Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Solid State Science and Technology will be presented to Yue Kuo, currently the holder of the Dow Professorship at Texas A&M University of Chemical Engineering. Learn more about society, division, and section awards.

Poster and Exhibit
These sessions are the perfect excuse to network while browsing an exciting line up of posters as well as the industry’s leading exhibitors. See the list of exhibitors.

Chicago Proceedings
The proceedings of seven Chicago symposia (H05, I05, I02, H03, H01, G02, H04) from the 227th ECS Meeting will be published in ECS Transactions (ECST) on May 15, 2015, just before the meeting in Chicago. Order your copies now with your early-bird registration.

5K Run and 1-Mile Walk
Claim your spot at the starting line on Wednesday of the meeting for the 3rd ECS Free the Science 5K and 1-Mile walk | sign up today!

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The nanowires were created through a process called meniscus-mask lithography.
Image: Tour Group/Rice University

Scientists and researchers around the world are always looking for ways to improve technology. While we’ve been making smaller circuits to improve semiconductors for some time now, we’ve just about reached the physical limits of shrinking nanowires. However, this newly developed technique allows for the formation of the tiniest wires yet.

A new technique has been developed that uses water to create patterns of wires less than 10 nanometers wide.

“This could have huge ramifications for chip production since the wires are easily made to sub-10-nanometer sizes,” said lead author James M. Tour. “There’s no other way in the world to do this en masse on a surface.”

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Deadline for Submitting Abstracts
May 1, 2015

Submit today!

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A novel vibrating vest that will allow deaf people to feel sound is under development at Rice University. The low-cost, non-invasive VEST—Versatile Extra-Sensory Transducer—features dozens of embedded sensors to vibrate varying patterns based on the words spoken.

The VEST works in tandem with a phone or tablet app to isolate speech from ambient sound and allow for easier translation of the vibration patterns.

“We see other applications for what we’re calling tactile sensory substitution,” says Rice University junior Abhipray Sahoo. “Information can be sent through the human body. It’s not just an augmentative device for the deaf. The VEST could be a general neural input device. You could receive any form of information.”

Interested in how sensor technology could change the world? Make sure to join us at the 227th ECS Meeting in Chicago this May, where we’ll hold symposia dedicated to sensors and their applications in healthcare, the environment, and beyond.

Register online now!