Carlo Pantano, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has served as director of Penn State's Materials Research Institute since 1998. This month, Pantano will step down as director to return full-time to research and teaching. In a recent interview with Matt Swayne of Research Communications, he expressed his excitement about the future of materials science, and the cross-pollination happening at Penn State's Millennium Science Complex.
How did you become interested in engineering and what made you want to be a materials scientist?I first became interested in engineering as a teenager. Working on cars was one of my hobbies and I was also lucky enough to land summer jobs in the industry. Those early jobs didn't just give me experience, they also taught me a lot about problem solving. I would see places where there were problems and I would think, "That's something I could solve." I really enjoyed that challenge. In retrospect, I now know that an engineering education teaches one how to approach and solve problems, in general, whether you're an engineer or not.
What role are materials scientists playing in creating next-generation technology and treatments?Materials scientists are developing new materials and altering current materials to reduce the weight or volume of an object, without sacrificing properties or performance. The new A1 alloy that is used on new Ford pickup trucks saves about 700 pounds! Materials research is leading to an increase in the operating temperature of turbines to improve performance and efficiency in both aircraft and in land-based power generation facilities. The single crystal turbine blade that is used in high performance jet engines, for example.
The list of potential innovations is staggering. Materials enable lower cost electronics, new drug delivery methods, organ repair and reconstruction, medical diagnostics, higher speed electronics, safety and longevity of vehicles and structures, longer-lasting batteries.