Our research program lies at the crossroads of organic chemistry and materials science. Its focus is using light to control the structures and functions of molecular and nanomaterials for use in a wide range of potential applications including as optical filters and other optoelectronic devices, as controllable reagents and catalysts, in detection and imaging, and in drug-delivery. My students’ research has been featured in magazines, journals, on TV and the radio, and in Canadian and international newspapers. Our distinctive advantage is our ability to develop creative solutions to practical challenges by designing photoresponsive organic molecules and, when needed, combining them with nanoparticles to control the mechanical properties of materials, in detection and imaging, and to release small molecules.