Curious about the links between sand ripples in the desert, shape-shifting robots, skyscrapers, and the cracks on an old painting? This class examines the physics behind shape formation, both in nature and in the works of humans. We will question the distinction between those who observe natural systems and those who create as engineers, designers and artists. Through concrete interdisciplinary examples, emphasizing classical concepts of soft matter physics and dynamical systems as well as advances in robotics, we will explore the surprising forms that discovery & invention can take.
