Math of Planet Earth Public Lectures: L. Mahadevan

Abstract 

Life is almost synonymous with autonomous motion, and the varied solutions invented by nature to accomplish movement beg the question of what general principles are used ? Using examples from the dynamics of macromolecular spring and molecular motors in cells, water driven movements in plants, and the muscle driven movements in animals, I hope to show how understanding these special cases allow us to sharpen the general question while providing lessons for engineering biomimetic machines. I will close with a description of some recent experimental and theoretical studies of the collective dynamics of bristlebots; simple engineered robots that interact only sterically.