When a master chef develops a new cake recipe, she doesn’t try every conceivable combination of ingredients to see which one works best. The chef uses prior baking knowledge and basic principles to more efficiently search for that winning formula.

Materials scientists use a similar method in searching for novel materials with unique properties in fields such as renewable energy and microelectronics. And a new artificial intelligence tool developed by Cornell researchers promises to rapidly explore and identify what it takes to “whip up” new materials.

What is the new work?

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering, incorporating controlled electronics, mechanical, and computer systems; all to adapt to the ever-evolving and intricate systems of everything in industry; from food processing and car-manufacturing, to sustainability and space exploration. CHESS requires a multidisciplinary team of engineers, technicians, programmers and scientists, and is a perfect case-study for the diverse coursework of the program offered at SUNY Delhi.

In her video, CHESS user Aerie

In food products, the natural blues tend to be moody.

A fun food colorant with a scientific name – phycocyanin – provides a vivid blue pigment that food companies crave, but it can be unstable when placed in soft drinks and sport beverages, and then lose its hues under fluorescent light on grocery shelves.

We asked Greg a few questions about his career so far and his hopes for the future at CHESS. 

Could you share a bit about your background and interests? 

What did the scientists do?