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Social Studies ConnectionScientistsArePeople TooDr. Daniel G. NoceraMIT NewsroomBy Elsie Spry“...Be inquisitive and totally dedicated ... Let your mind go... immerse yourself deeply. Then you can see whatothers cannot...The true, true discovery is ―You’ve got to just do it yourself. You can't read about it."Dr. Daniel Nocera, Creator/ Researcher of the Artificial LeafDr. Daniel Nocera is a research scientist whoruns the Nocera Lab at Harvard University, Boston,MA. The lab is working on a project to createelectrical energy from an artificial leaf similar to theway a plant converts energy from photosynthesis.He believes anyone will soon be able to make energyusing this “leaf” and water.Early Interest Leads to Science ResearchDr. Nocera was born in Boston, but his familymoved around a lot. Moving can be difficult, but ithelped him develop a love for science. “Science(was) something I could carry with me no matterwhere we moved,” says Dr. Nocera.When he was young, he used a microscope whenhe went on square-meter field trips. He wouldmeasure one square meter and dig for creatures. “…(In) just that little piece of land,” he says, “youcould...find a whole new world. That’s whatresearch is: you teach yourself stuff.”When Dr. Nocera was in high school, the ArabOil Embargo started. Energy prices for everythingskyrocketed. When he became a graduate student,war broke out in the oil-rich Middle East. Energygot even more expensive. That’s when Dr. Noceradecided to conduct research on plant energy. Evenwhen energy prices dropped, he continued his plant/chemistry research. His goal was to make fuel theway plants do from sunlight and water.An Interest Becomes a FocusThis project was so big that Dr. Nocera neededhelp from other scientists. He recruitedphotosynthesis specialists, solar engineers, and otherchemists. They made a plan to develop the leafworking backwards! Energy researchers often workfrom large to small. The Nocera Team works fromsmall to a little bigger. They started working on oneleaf rather than a whole tree.SunCatalytix_LaMonicaThe artificial leaf inside a container of water witha strong light shining on it.What an Artificial Leaf Does1. With an artificial leaf and water, you have apower station, and you don’t waste water. Dr.Nocera’s Team coats the sides of a solar cell withdifferent, inexpensive materials such as nickel,Continued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 27 Electricity