Professor Kim See (Photo – Lance Hayashida/Caltech)
If you’ve ever wondered about the battery waste generated by modern technology, from electric cars to laptops to flashlights, you’re not alone.
By Melanie Hooks
It’s a central focus of the research of chemistry professor Kimberly See, and the topic of her free public lecture on Wednesday, February 25, at 7:30 pm, the latest installment in the campus’s Watson Lecture Series.
Registration is requested via the Caltech events website, but the event is free and open to the public. The lecture will take place at Beckman Auditorium, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena.
About the Talk
From toys to cell phones to electric cars, batteries power modern life, and they may play a pivotal role in building a sustainable energy infrastructure. Next-generation batteries could help store power from intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar, while enabling broader adoption of battery-powered electric vehicles. These advances are critical to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, a priority made increasingly urgent by the massive energy demands of AI servers.
However, today’s state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries come with significant challenges. They rely on scarce and expensive minerals, raising concerns about cost, supply, and environmental impact. In this talk, Kimberly See, professor of chemistry, will discuss her lab’s efforts to develop new energy-storage chemistries that move beyond lithium-ion technology, using more abundant and less-expensive materials while maintaining the high energy densities that have made modern batteries so transformative.y’s batteries so transformative.
Evening Schedule
6:00 pm — Activities and music. Food, drinks, and books available for purchase.
7 :00 pm — Doors open.
7:30 pm — Talk and Q&A.
8:30 pm — Post-talk concessions and conversation.
The live event is in-person and a recording will be made available on the Caltech Youtube channel.
Watson Lecture Series Wednesday, February 25 7:30 pm Location Caltech Beckman Auditorium Registration: Click here.
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