California Interfacial Science Institute (CISI): Bridging Molecular Magic and Macroscopic Miracles
Our world thrives on the exchange of energy and particle at interfaces. Whether it’s harnessing clean energy, producing clean water, capturing carbon dioxide, eliminating plastics from our oceans, or developing next-generation batteries, the properties of the interface define the chemistry that takes place. However, the important microscopic interactions that take place at interfaces are often shrouded in mystery and discovering the intricacies of interfacial chemistry remains a significant challenge.
Why CISI?
At the heart of the California Interfacial Science Institute is a pursuit to understand and control interfacial chemistry. Anchored at the University of California, CISI aspires to be a collaborative hub for interfacial science, bringing together both theorists and experimentalists across the state of California. Our current mission is to dive deeper into the intriguing interfacial phenomena that drive new technologies—like CO2 capture, solar energy conversion, and high-performance batteries.
Who We Are:
CISI is a consortium of researchers from UC Berkeley, UC Merced, UC Los Angeles, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. All current members are listed here. Our expertise ranges from interface-specific spectroscopy to theoretical computations and beyond. We seek to develop new strategies for understanding the complex world of interfaces.
Our Vision:
Beyond discoveries, CISI envisions technological revolutions to counter today’s most significant global challenges. Through research activities, we aim to shape the next generation of scientists. From graduate students to undergraduate researchers, CISI aims to train researchers to tackle the most pressing problem in interfacial science. CISI directly funds a number of graduate students and post-docs across the UC system. In addition, we offer an attractive summer research program, CISI SURF, to enable undergraduate participation.
Engage with CISI:
Our commitment extends beyond labs and lectures. We’re ardent about outreach, ensuring the magic of interfacial science resonates with the public.
