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NanoManufacturing

Michael De Volder, Engineering Department - IfM
 

Enabling three-dimensional architected materials across length scales and timescales

http://feeds.nature.com/nmat/rss/current - Wed, 12/03/2025 - 00:00

Nature Materials, Published online: 12 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02119-8

Architected materials provide a pathway to achieve properties beyond those of monolithic materials. This Perspective discusses complex architecture designs and their fabrication, characterization and functions across length scales and timescales.

Tue 11 Mar 15:00: CASCADE Poster Social (+ Compiler Tech Talk)

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 21:46
CASCADE Poster Social (+ Compiler Tech Talk)

CASCADE Poster Social

Please join us for a look at some of the cutting-edge research in computer architecture coming out of the Department of Computer Science and Technology with a poster session and light refreshments. We’ll have posters from students and postdocs working in the broad area of computer architecture, where you can browse at your leisure, speak directly to the authors and network with other computer architects whilst enjoying an early evening drink and light snacks in the William Gates Building.

Schedule

15:00 – 16:00 | Compiler Tech Talks

16:00 – 18:00 | Cascade Poster Social

Registration https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cascade-poster-session-and-social-event-tickets-1249170325069

Before the Cascade Poster Social, we are hosting a Compiler Tech Talk with Sean Silva.

A High-Velocity Architecture for MLIR AI Compilers

In this talk we present an MLIR -based compiler architecture that delivers predictable performance for AI workloads. We derive its design from intuitive mental models, and along the way subsume seemingly competing goals of performance, portability, and generality into one concept: velocity (of developing the compiler). Hence we call this a high-velocity compiler architecture. We present this compiler architecture in detail, compare it with the most widespread competing architectural ideas, and connect it with prior art.

Sean Silva

... is a Principal Engineer at Encharge AI, where among other responsibilities he leads the architecture and implementation of the compiler. He previously worked on state-of-the-art AI software and hardware for 7 years at Google and Waymo, including IREE , XLA, Google Edge TPU , and Pixel Visual Core. His humble start in the LLVM community was refactoring TableGen in 2012 which has grown into a decade-long adventure through LLVM , Clang, LLD , and MLIR .

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-silva-144b611b5/

Slides: https://gist.github.com/ssilva-encharge/022659297610a763792c45d56dad49e3

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Mon 17 Mar 15:00: The place to be? At the nexus of psychology and geography

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 18:46
The place to be? At the nexus of psychology and geography

Nobody lives in a vacuum. Whoever we are and wherever we go, every second of our existence is spent in a physical and sociocultural environment that we inevitably interact with. Building on this simple fact of life, in the present talk I argue that geography is foundational to psychology and that to understand who we are we need to understand where we are. To support this claim, I introduce a new conceptual framework to systematise and guide research at the intersection of psychology and geography. I then present original empirical findings that speak to three broad questions: 1) how do places differ psychologically? 2) why do places differ psychologically? and 3) what do these differences mean for individuals and the places in which they live? To address these questions, in my lab I combine large-scale geo-tagged personality datasets with diverse real-world behavioral outcomes and ecological indicators (e.g., housing prices, personal financial records, patent production rates) across multiple countries (e.g., India, Japan, USA ) and spatial levels (e.g., states, cities). Among other results, this work 1) demonstrates systematic regional variation in Big Five personality traits, cultural tightness, courage, and loneliness, 2) identifies various ecological, sociocultural, and economic factors that may contribute to geographical psychological differences, and 3) shows how regional psychological differences may contribute to outcomes as diverse as divorce rates, political conservatism, and individual spending. In the current talk, I present a whistle-stop tour of this program of research that highlights some of its most compelling and vexing results. I conclude with personal reflections on doing research at the nexus of psychology and geography and a list of resources for interested researchers and practitioners.

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Wed 14 May 16:30: Invitation to Leavitt path algebras

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 17:17
Invitation to Leavitt path algebras

Leavitt path algebras, which are algebras associated to directed graphs, were first introduced about 20 years ago. They have strong connections to such topics as group theory, symbolic dynamics, operator algebras, non-commutative geometry, representation theory, and even chip firing. In this talk we invite the reader to sneak a peek at these fascinating algebras and their interplay with several seemingly disparate parts of mathematics.

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Wed 14 May 16:30: Invitation to Leavitt path algebras

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 17:17
Invitation to Leavitt path algebras

Leavitt path algebras, which are algebras associated to directed graphs, were first introduced about 20 years ago. They have strong connections to such topics as group theory, symbolic dynamics, operator algebras, non-commutative geometry, representation theory, and even chip firing. In this talk we invite the reader to sneak a peek at these fascinating algebras and their interplay with several seemingly disparate parts of mathematics.

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Dual thermal-stimulated self-adhesive mixed-phase interface to enable ultra-long cycle life of solid-state sodium metal batteries

http://feeds.rsc.org/rss/ee - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 16:42

Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE05140H, PaperGaofeng Du, Shuhao Wang, Zhaoming Tong, Xinyu Ji, Xinqi Wei, Quanbin Zha, Tianyou Zhai, Huiqiao Li
We used dual thermal stimulation to prepare a uniform and dense mixed interface, achieving strong adhesion between the solid-state electrolyte and Na metal, thereby realizing the ultra-long cycling life of solid-state sodium metal batteries.
To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Mon 17 Mar 13:05: Helsing: Simulating a System of Systems

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 16:26
Helsing: Simulating a System of Systems

At Helsing, speed and correctness are key in delivering high quality products. The two are often in antithesis; it is difficult to quickly iterate over designs while keeping your codebase correct and vice versa. To build confidence in the systems we build, we use deterministic simulation concepts to enable full end-to-end testing and verification of our software through our in-house simulation platform called Prophecy. Prophecy aims to make simulating easy by providing libraries and services necessary to orchestrate simulations and build a system of systems. This allows other teams to test scenarios up-front and ensure their code and models are resilient to failure, and to run complex, distributed workflows through closed or open loop simulations. In this talk, we’ll be having a look at what deterministic simulation is in a nutshell, how Prophecy works, and how to simulate concurrent code in Rust using tokio.

Please register at the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/E2nCWEpkA9

You can also participate in a coding challenge, and the best submission will win a DJI drone. The challenge is available in this link: https://screen-ide.coderpad.io/invite/1323704f6f9c624b725

Please note that it is not a requirement to sign up in order to attend the event

Some catering will be provided

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Tue 17 Jun 11:15: Title TBC

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 16:13
Title TBC

Abstract TBC

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Fri 30 May 15:00: Title to be confirmed

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:54
Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

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Fri 14 Mar 12:00: : Scratching Beneath the Surface of Pan Communication: Intentions, Representations and Joint Attention The host for this talk is Mirjana Bozic

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:18
: Scratching Beneath the Surface of Pan Communication: Intentions, Representations and Joint Attention

Despite important similarities having been found between human and animal communication systems, surprisingly little research effort has focussed on whether the cognitive mechanisms underpinning these behaviours are also similar. If comparative research is going to help elucidate the evolutionary origins of human language we need to consider whether seemingly homologous traits are underpinned by similar mechanisms. In terms of vocal production, it is highly debated whether signal production in non-human primates is the result of reflexive processes, or under intentional control. I will present data from a snake presentation experiment with wild chimpanzees that shows that two types of alarm calls meet several behavioural markers for intentional production. In terms of reception of vocal signals, there is some evidence that conspecific alarm calls evoke mental representations in listeners, however the nature of any representations (object or affect based) remains difficult to determine. I will present recent work with Kanzi, the language competent bonobo, that shows he reliably matched bonobo alarm calls to lexigrams (arbitrary symbols) denoting both ‘snake’ as an object-based representation and ‘scare’ as an affect-based representation, indicating that these conspecific calls evoke both object-based and affect-based representations in this bonobo. Finally, I will ask whether joint attention, which is so important for language acquisition and communication in humans is unique to our species. I will present data from stimulus presentation experiments with human infants, wild chimpanzees and wild crested macaques to show that joint attention does occur in our closest living relatives, albeit at a much lower rate than in humans.

The host for this talk is Mirjana Bozic

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Fri 02 May 16:30: To be confirmed

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:18
To be confirmed

The host for this talk is Nicky Clayton

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Fri 16 May 16:30: How do (and don't) we take other perspectives? The host for this talk is Nicky Clayton

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:18
How do (and don't) we take other perspectives?

Perspective taking, whether in the classic ‘Theory of Mind’ sense or in the more perceptual domain (e.g. visual perspective taking) has long been considered a cornerstone of social cognition. Recent years have given rise to new research threads, such as ‘spontaneous’ perspective taking, perceptual simulation (quasi-perceptual experiences of others’ perceptual input), and embodied or ‘grounded’ processes, particularly in spatial perspective taking paradigms. Focusing in particular on visuo-spatial perspective taking, in this talk I will present evidence for or against each of these hypotheses, argue for the separation of perceptual and cognitive perspective taking, and highlight the increasingly clear importance of individual differences.

The host for this talk is Nicky Clayton

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Fri 23 May 16:30: To be confirmed The host for this talk is Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:18
To be confirmed

The Host for this talk is Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

The host for this talk is Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

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Fri 30 May 16:30: TBC

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:18
TBC

Abstract not available

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Fri 30 May 16:30: TBC

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 15:18
TBC

Abstract not available

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Wed 19 Mar 16:00: Structure-function studies of essential mitochondrial complexes of apicomplexan parasites Host: Julian Rayner

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 14:21
Structure-function studies of essential mitochondrial complexes of apicomplexan parasites

Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) are essential, and their function of synthesising mitochondrial proteins is universal. The core of almost all mitoribosomes is formed from a small number of long and self-folding rRNA molecules. In contrast, the mitoribosome of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii assembles from over 50 extremely short rRNA molecules. We used cryo-EM structural analysis in combination with genetics and cell biology to discover the features that enable this unusual mitoribosome to perform its function. Our studies revealed novel ribosome features that mitigate this extreme fragmentation, including a new role for Poly-A tails and abundant repurposing of proteins with other functional domains. We further provide evidence for mitoribosome adaptation to the mitochondrial genome irregularities found in T. gondii. Altogether, Toxoplasma’s unusual biology provided us with a magnifying glass to understand new principles of mitoribosomes biology and function.

Host: Julian Rayner

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Fri 25 Apr 08:45: Title to be confirmed

http://talks.cam.ac.uk/show/rss/5408 - Tue, 11/03/2025 - 13:34
Title to be confirmed

Chaired by Elizabeth Murchison

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