Watson Lecture: Chasing Sustainable Battery Chemistries for the Future with Kimberly See

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About the Talk

From toys to cell phones to electric cars, batteries power modern life. They also play a potentially pivotal role in building a sustainable energy infrastructure. Next-generation batteries could help store power from intermittent renewable sources, such as wind and solar, and enable expanded adoption of battery-powered electric vehicles. Such advances are critical to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, a priority that has grown more urgent in recent years given the massive power needs of AI servers.

However, today's state-of-the-art battery technology, the lithium-ion battery, comes with some significant challenges. Lithium-ion batteries rely on scarce and expensive minerals, which limits their use and raises concerns about affordability and environmental impact. In this talk, Kimberly See, professor of chemistry, will explore her lab's efforts to develop energy-storage chemistries that move beyond lithium-ion, using more abundant and less-expensive materials, while still achieving the high-energy densities that have made today's batteries so transformative.

Evening Schedule

6 p.m. — Activities and music. Food, drinks, and books available for purchase.
7 p.m. — Doors open.
7:30 p.m. — Talk and Q&A.
8:30 p.m. — Post-talk concessions and conversation.

The live event is in-person and a recording will be made available on our Youtube channel.

About the Series

For more than 100 years, the Watson Lectures have brought the wonder of Caltech research and discovery to the public.

Free and open to the public, the Watson Lecture Series offers a unique and accessible opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge science directly from Caltech's premier researchers. Come early to mingle with your neighbors over food, drink and music, as well as interactive displays related to the evening's topic. Then head inside to hear a stimulating talk and stay to ask your burning questions.

Many past Watson Lectures are available on Caltech's YouTube channel.