Dear CEE Community,

This week’s CEE 500 speaker is Dr. Vikram Iyer, assistant professor of Computer Science and Engineering. Dr. Iyer will talk about designing nature-inspired sustainable environmental sensing networks using natural materials.

Title: Designing the internet of sustainable things

When/where: Thursday (1/12), 3:30. SMI (Smith Hall) 211.

Zoom: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96670347080 

Abstract: Sensor networks and miniaturized internet of things (IoT) devices have the potential to be transformative for advancing environmental sustainability by monitoring temperature, energy use, emissions, and even tracking wildlife for conservation; however the vision of producing and deploying billions of sensors also raises significant embedded carbon and e-waste concerns. This talk explores how we can both take inspiration from nature and use natural materials to begin designing a sustainable future for real-world IoT sensors and computing devices. Examples include tiny battery free sensors that can fly in the wind like dandelion seeds to automatically deploy a network, 3D printed objects that can communicate data wirelessly without electronics, and functional circuit prototypes like a computer mouse built on biodegradable substrates.

Dr. Iyer’s Bio: Vikram Iyer is an Assistant Professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. Vikram’s research takes an interdisciplinary approach spanning computer science and engineering, biology, and materials science to push the boundaries of technology. This includes building insect-scale wireless robots, cameras and sensors small enough to ride on the back of live insects like beetles, bumblebees and “murder” hornets, as well as biodegradable and recyclable circuits. Vikram’s work has been recognized by a Microsoft Research Fellowship, the Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar award, the Sigmobile Dissertation Award, and best paper awards.