The event will be broadcasted through the Society’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, more information see: fb.me/e/5kweiZkFz

‘In this talk, I argue that for materials discovery, one needs to go beyond simple computational screening approaches followed by traditional experimentation. I have been working on the design and implementation of what I call “materials acceleration platforms” (MAPs). MAPs are enabled by the confluence of three disparate fields, namely artificial intelligence (AI), high-throughput quantum chemistry (HTQC), and robotics. The integration of prediction, synthesis and characterization in an AI-driven closed-loop approach promises the acceleration of materials discovery by a factor of 10, or even a 100. I will describe our efforts under the Mission Innovation umbrella platform around this topic.’

Alán Aspuru-Guzik is a Professor of Chemistry and Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Born and raised in Mexico, Alán began his independent career as a Professor at Harvard University in 2006 and until 2018, when he moved to Toronto. His research spans multiple areas, all of them connected by a focus in developing new materials, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence. He has received numerous accolades, including the Google Focused Award for Quantum Computing and several fellowships, and was selected as one of the best innovators under the age of 35 by the MIT Technology Review. He is also a successful serial entrepreneur with several thriving startups under his name.