Today we are joined by Professor Sam Stranks, Professor of Optoelectronics and Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and a Joint Member here at the Cavendish Laboratory.  Growing up in Australia, Sam graduated from the University of Adelaide with a BA in German and Applied Mathematics, alongside a BSc in Physics and Physical Chemistry, before completing a PhD at Oxford University. 

His research focuses on developing novel materials for low-cost electronics applications, such as solar cells and LEDs, and he is co-founder of Swift Solar, a company taking this technology to market by developing lightweight perovskite solar panels. 

If working in business and academia wasn't enough, Sam teaches at the university, setting up several new PhD programmes, and is one the co-founders of Sustain/Education, a national charity developing content for Primary Schools looking at climate change solutions. 

In this episode, we talk about his multidisciplinary route through science, how he manages to keep a foot in both research and industry, and just how many times he came close to dropping physics entirely... 

• Learn more about Sam Stranks’ research by visiting his group website.
• Sam’s spin-out company: Swift Solar - Next generation lightweight and efficient solar technology
• The new PhD programme PhDin Sustainable Energy Materials Innovations is now open for applications!
• Visit the Sustain/Education website to learn more about their actions in primary school classes across the country.
• Listen back to Stuart Macpherson, co-founder of Sustain/Education, talking about his own journey into physics on this podcast.
• And finally, explore the Cavendish Laboratory, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024

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Episode credits

• Hosts: Jacob Butler and Vanessa Bismuth
• Recording and Editing: Chris Brock

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