Science AMA Series: I’m Will Dichtel, an organic chemist at Cornell
University working to find new practical uses for nanostructured
materials. I was also named a MacArthur Fellow in 2015. AMA!
Abstract
Hi reddit! I’m Will Dichtel, I’m an organic chemist at Cornell
University and am currently on sabbatical leave as a Visiting Miller
Professor at UC-Berkeley. My research group addresses challenges in
energy storage, sensing, and other applications. We often study polymers
with permanent voids and high surface areas. The material described in
our recent Nature article is derived from corn starch, rapidly removes
trace pollutants such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals from water, and
may be easily regenerated and reused. In 2015, the MacArthur Foundation
named me a MacArthur Fellow, recognizing me for “pioneering” the
development of porous polymers known as covalent organic frameworks
(COFs). To learn more about my research, feel free to follow me on
Twitter (@dichtel) or check out my website at
http://dichtel.chem.cornell.edu/. I’ll be back at 1 pm EST to answer
your questions, ask me anything! EDIT (1p ET): Hi Everyone, I’m here and
starting now. EDIT2 (2p ET): Thanks for your questions - I need to run
now but will check back later and try to answer a few more this
afternoon. EDIT3 (11p ET): I came back to answer a few more questions
but am done for good now. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTIONS!