The Georgia Tech-COPE Distinguished Lecture Series welcomes Professor Alan J. Heeger who serves as Professor of Physics and Professor of Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara and also heads a research group at the university's Center for Polymers and Organic Solids. The lecture will take place at the Molecular Science and Engineering Building, Room G011 on Friday, February 18 at 4pm. Refreshments will be served following the lecture.

About Alan Heeger
Dr. Heeger was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2000) for his pioneering research in and the co-founding of the field of semiconducting and metallic polymers. He has more than 800 peer-reviewed scientific publications. His research efforts continue to focus on the science and technology of semiconducting and metallic polymers with emphasis on "plastic" solar cells; i.e. self-assembly of bulk heterojunction nano-materials by spontaneous phase separation.

Heeger co-founded (with Howard Berke) Konarka Techonologies in 2001 and he continues to serve as Chief Scientist. Konarka is commercializing low cost plastic solar cells fabricated from bulk heterojunction materials comprising semiconducting polymers and fullerenes. Konarka has developed roll-to-roll manufacturing for printed plastic solar cells. Product introduction is on-going with manufacturing on the world's largest roll-to-roll thin film solar manufacturing facility. Other current interests include studies of bio-specific sensors for DNA and proteins.

About The Georgia Tech-COPE Distinguished Lecture Series
The Georgia Tech-COPE Distinguished Lecture Series provides the Georgia Tech and Atlanta communities a unique opportunity to interact with world-renowned scientists from across the globe. Chosen for their seminal contributions to research in organic photonics and electronics, invited Lecturers share their expertise in a wide range of topics relevant to this exciting field.