MIT News
December 13, 2023
Angela Belcher gave 2023 Mildred S. Dresselhaus Lecture at MIT last November, using her signature props to demonstrate the wide variety of concepts and projects made possible by the intersection of biology and nanotechnology. Belcher introduced her audiences to her work with the M13 bacteriophage, which has enabled her to make advances in building batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells to carbon sequestration and storage, environmental remediation, catalysis, and medical diagnostics and imaging—including for ovarian cancer. “Part of the secret of life and the meaning of life is helping other people enjoy the passage of time,” said Belcher. “I think that we can all do that by working to solve some of the biggest issues on the planet, including helping to diagnose and treat ovarian cancer early so people have more time to spend with their family.”