Andrew Mcallister Email & Phone Number

Communicating science is just as important as doing science. Without being able to explain your motivation and results, finding support (either funding or otherwise) will be difficult. Aside from getting direct support, explaining and exploring the social consequences of science and technology is vital. Science and technology can change the world, but history shows that those changes don’t come without tradeoffs. Thinking hard about these areas requires engaging with a variety of different people on complex subjects.The most exciting parts of my PhD have been communicating research in different mediums to different audiences. I have sought out various experiences and training to learn how to communicate well: * the RELATE workshop series at the University of Michigan* ComSciCon Chicago* Public Policy 650 - Introduction to Science and Technology Policy* speaking at Nerd Nite Ann Arbor* writing and editing in various places (Michigan Science Writers, my personal blog, Friends of Joe’s Big Idea)* Helping organize the first ComSciCon MichiganAll of these experiences (and more) have given me an appreciation for how difficult explaining complex topics is, but also that it can be incredibly rewarding and fun.Research-wise, my PhD has been focused on developing and applying computational methods to study materials used in LEDs. LED bulbs are still very expensive compared to bulbs like incandescents and compact-fluorescents. I am trying to reduce that cost by modeling LED materials on supercomputers. My methods can predict properties of materials long before an experimentalists has to go through the expensive and time consuming process of making the material in the lab. That time and money can be saved by my calculations, leading to faster discovery of materials that have desirable properties. With my calculations, I hope to find new materials that can be realized in the lab that will lead to more efficient and cheaper LEDs.

Listed skills include Science Communication, Scientific Computing, Technical Writing, Scientific Writing, and 9 others.