Simplicity as a Route to Impact in Materials Research

Xinchun Tian, Kara R. Lind, Bin Yuan, Santosh Shaw, Oskar Siemianowski, Ludovico Cademartiri*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Materials scientists and engineers desire to have an impact. In this Progress Report we postulate a close correlation between impact – whether academic, technological, or scientific – and simple solutions, here defined as solutions that are inexpensive, reliable, predictable, highly performing, “stackable” (i.e., they can be combined and compounded with little increase in complexity), and “hackable” (i.e., they can be easily modified and optimized). In light of examples and our own experience, we propose how impact can be pursued systematically in materials research through a simplicity-driven approach to discovery-driven or problem-driven research.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1604681
JournalAdvanced Materials
Volume29
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • design
  • method
  • research
  • simplicity

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Tian, X., Lind, K. R., Yuan, B., Shaw, S., Siemianowski, O., & Cademartiri, L. (2017). Simplicity as a Route to Impact in Materials Research. Advanced Materials, 29(17), Article 1604681. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201604681