Extreme Electrochemistry for a Sustainable Future
This week on Cleaning Up, Michael talks with legendary polymath, educator, communicator and inventor, Donald Sadoway, Professor Emeritus of Materials Chemistry at MIT.
This week on Cleaning Up, Michael talks with legendary polymath, educator, communicator and inventor, Donald Sadoway, Professor Emeritus of Materials Chemistry at MIT.
Professor Sadoway earned his PhD in chemical metallurgy in 1977 at the University of Toronto and joined the faculty at MIT in 1978 where he spent 44 years. For 16 of those, he taught the foundation course 3.091, Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry and his animated lectures—peppered with references to music, art, and literature—became legendary.
Among the many accolades bestowed on Professor Sadoway in his 44 years as a teacher and researcher at MIT was a compliment by Bill Gates: “best chemistry lessons anywhere. Unbelievable.”
Professor Sadoway is also a notable inventor, having authored over 170 papers and registered over 30 patents. He has founded several startups, including Ambri, Avanti Battery Company and Boston Metal. Even though none of them have gone on to become unicorns (yet!), they have already had profound influence.
In 2012 he was named by Time magazine one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” and in 2022 the European Patent Office gave him the European Inventor Award for his work on liquid batteries.
It’s a wonderful and warm conversation, some people are already saying it is one of their favourite episodes. Definitely one to watch or listen to!