From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes: The Modern Science of Origami. A Lecture by Robert Lang

Saturday, May 26, 2012
2:00 PM—4:00 PM

Internationally acclaimed origami artist Robert Lang will describe how geometric concepts led to the solution of a broad class of origami folding problems – specifically, the problem of efficiently folding a shape with an arbitrary number and arrangement of flaps, and along the way, enabled origami designs of mind-blowing complexity and realism, some of which you’ll see, too. As often happens in mathematics, theory originally developed for its own sake has… Show more led to some surprising practical applications. The algorithms and theorems of origami design have shed light on long-standing mathematical questions and have solved practical engineering problems. He will discuss examples of how origami has enabled safer airbags, Brobdingnagian space telescopes, and more.

Special: Robert Lang will lead an informal gallery talk after his lecture.

In conjunction with the exhibition Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami.

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