Asymmetric Tetrablock Terpolymers Frank S. Bates, University of Minnesota, DMR 1104368

1. Asymmetric Tetrablock TerpolymersFrank S. Bates, University of Minnesota, DMR 1104368 Multiblock copolymers that containing three or more chemically distinct blocks offer unparalleled opportunities for designing materials with prescribed nanoscale shapes and tailored functionality. A new synthetic strategy that permits the synthesis of poly(ethylene oxide-b-styrene-b-butadiene-b-ethylene oxide) (OSBO’) tetrablock terpolymers, with independent control over the length of all four blocks, has been demonstrated. This class of asymmetric multiblocks offers a unique approach for preparing water dispersible polymer vesicles (polymersomes) governed by a prescribed, non-zero, mean curvature, hence a specified overall size. This feature is critical in many practical applications including drug delivery, nano reactor technology, coatings and cosmetics. Asymmetric tetrablock terpolymer OSBO’ Prescribed polymersome curvature

2. 10,000 Students learn the 1st Law of ThermodynamicsFrank S. Bates, University of Minnesota, DMR 1104368 During the weeks of January 9 and May 14 of 2012 a total of 30 one-hour “Energy & U” shows were presented to 10,000 eager 3rd to 9th grade students bused to the University of Minnesota from around the Twin Cities. A spectacular array of demonstra-tions, coupled to a fundamental technological theme, left these impressionable young scholars with an intuitive understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: “Energy can not be created or destroyed.” This program now involves six members of the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Chemistry Departments at the University of Minnesota.