From Pizza to Plant Leaves: The Mathematics of Thin Materials | Carolina Science Café

Why do plant leaves curl as they grow or dry out? Why do you fold a slice of pizza when picking it up? How can inflatable structures support heavy loads? At December’s Carolina Science Café, Dr. Thomas Chandler will explore these questions through the lens of applied mathematics. He will introduce the mechanics of thin elastic materials, showing how geometry and the competition between bending and stretching govern their behavior. From Gauss’s remarkable theorem to the design of soft robots, he will demonstrate how these mathematical ideas help us understand biological structures and inspire new technologies.

Free and open to adults
Light appetizers available for attendees
Drinks available for purchase

Hosted by Morehead Planetarium at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro.