Crystals, Coffee and the Secret Life of Molecules

Crystals are all around us, from ice and chocolate to medicines and microchips. This talk explores how crystals form, how we determine their structures, and why those structures matter. Through real-world examples, we’ll see how crystallisation shapes the natural world, modern technology, and even our own bodies.

Ever wondered why your coffee tastes amazing in a coffee shop, but flat at home?
We’ll dive in to see why the same chemistry that makes your espresso bright also leaves your hair dull and wreck your washing machine! This short talk will help you how we can get the best brew out of your beans, protect your appliances, and have fuller, thicker follicles.

Are you reading these words? If so, you are making good use of the molecular machines inside your body! But how do we go about building our own molecular machines? Join us on a journey through this miniature world. Discover the strange rules that govern motion at the molecular scale, and find out how what it all has to do with a 19th century demon. Learn how to build molecular motors and pumps, and find out why we’re still so bad at this compared to biology! Finally, let’s have a think about the technological revolution that will surely follow once we can fully control molecular-level motion.