A a series of lectures featuring materials sciences expert Professor Rigoberto Advincula of Case Western Reserve University. With considerable expertise in the design, synthesis and characterization of new polymers and nanoscale materials, Prof. Advincula has designed a series of lectures in order to share the latest developments in nanomaterials research in a variety of applications and fields. Knots, chains, art—these intersect where there is high interest in observing complexity and paradox in design. Appreciation of Celtic art, Gothic art, and other forms of knotted designs and architectures is widespread. Mathematical theories on topology as applied to the design of polymer materials are not very common. This webinar will focus on the use of supramolecular chemistry to define a new class of polymer materials accessible with designed templates. The possible advantages of these materials in controlling phase behavior, crystallinity, and thermomechanical properties of polymers rest on an effective synthesis method to produce them in high yield. This webinar will focus on the synthesis and characterization of catenated and knotted polymers using a supramolecular approach. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is an important method to directly characterize and visualize these polymers.