Up close and personal: Andrew Smaha

This week's Graphene-info personal interview features Andrew T. Smaha. If you wish to be featured, contact us here.

• Andrew T. Smaha, Conference Director, Smithers Information: Andrew manages and creates a portfolio that includes emerging technologies and materials such as OLEDs, LEDs & SSL, Graphene, Tire Technology & Vehicle Dynamics, Color Science & Pigments, TiO2, Carbon Black, Met Coke, Silicone Elastomers, TPE, and others. For these sectors, Andrew connects researchers, suppliers, producers and buyers by producing several market-leading global business and technology summits.
• What was the last book you read? A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson
• And the last movie you saw? Birdman
• Tell us a couple of things you have on your desk at work: A mini tabletop banner from the OLEDs World Summit 2013, a massive amount of peppermint gum and huge water bottle it’s somewhat of a nervous habit to always be minty and hydrated! Also a photo collage of my two adorable kids
• What’s your favorite food? Nothing beats a nice steak and fresh seasonal vegetables on my own grill or at a campsite. I am a craft beer enthusiast, too, so the setting and mood play a very important role in my enjoyment of food.
• What was your latest travel destination? Vienna at Christmastime for a conference. Absolutely stunning.
• What was the last music CD you listened to? The Decemberists (one of my favorite bands) just released What a Terrible World What a Beautiful World and it’s pretty much on continual loop right now.
• What is the object you'd most like to 3D print? I honestly don’t have much interest in having a 3D printed object for myself, but on the whole the ability to print vital human organs is the area I am most excited and hopeful for. Just thrilling.
• Who would you most like to sit next to on a long flight? (dead or alive): I wouldn't be up for a long serious talk about life and what it all means, so it would need to be someone more social. I would have to say Walt Disney a man who was equal parts humanist, entrepreneur, risk-taker, creative genius and businessman. He had such an impact on the pure enjoyment and enrichment of the everyday common man, and his ability to tap into the human experience and understand people could yield some pretty exciting lessons I could carry forward into my own life.
• What are you most excited about regarding Graphene? As with most technology, I am more interested in practical applications that could solve some fairly serious global issues. Applications in water filtration would be a good example.