[From the Archives] Ep 90: Dr. Ben Hatton on Creativity and Research

Research in Action | A podcast for faculty & higher education professionals on research design, methods, productivity & more

In this episode, Katie is joined by Dr. Ben Hatton, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and cross-appointed to the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto (UofT). Dr. Hatton is an engineer who obtained his Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of Toronto in the area of nanomaterials synthesis by self-assembly. He has worked extensively on the design, fabrication and properties of nano- and microstructured surfaces, for biomaterial applications, and worked at Harvard University for 5 years (as a postdoc and research associate) before coming to UofT in 2012. Dr. Hatton currently has >40 peer review publications and >50 presentations and conference abstracts, and is focused on investigating the relationships between nanocomposite structure and nanomaterial surface design on bacterial contamination of biomaterial surfaces. The Hatton group works on the synthesis of drug-silica nanomaterials for drug release, non-adhesive and non-fouling biomaterials, and nano/micro scale topography effects on cell binding and surface reactions. Dr. Hatton has over 15 patents (and applications), from his research work at UofT and Harvard University.

Segment 1: Researching in Different Environments [00:00-13:41]

In this first segment, Ben shares about what he has learned from research in many different environments.

Segment 2: Strategies for Creativity in Research [13:42-23:36]

In segment two, Ben shares his favorite strategies for nurturing creativity in research.

In this segment, the following resources are mentioned:

Segment 3: More Strategies for Creativity in Research [23:37-35:15]

In segment three, Ben shares additional strategies for nurturing creativity in research.

In this segment, the following resources are mentioned:

• Johnson, S. (2010). Where good ideas come from: The natural history of innovation. New York: Riverhead Books.
• RIA # 10: Dr. Dannelle Stevens on Journaling Best Practices
• Materials Research Society (MRS) Conference

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