Prize for a Faculty Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution Winner: Rae Robertson-AndersonThe Whole is More than the Sum of its Parts

Composite materials - comprising biopolymers, macromolecules and particles of different sizes, topologies, and stiffnesses - exhibit emergent mechanics, dynamics and structures that cannot be predicted or engineered from the properties of the individual components. Researchers with different backgrounds, career stages, disciplinary interests, skin colors, gender identities and life experiences - working together - advance and democratize knowledge at a much more rapid pace than working alone. These truths have shaped my research and education goals which focus on bridging gaps and scales and bringing together disparate components to build materials with emergent properties, instruments with new capabilities, knowledge at the interface between scientific disciplines, programming to prepare undergraduates for 21st century careers, and inclusive scientific communities with diverse voices and narratives. My talk will elaborate on some of the key discoveries and initiatives that I have worked on to advance these goals, and the amazing community of undergraduates and collaborators who have made this work possible.