A cool aspect of the SGI is the opportunity to engage with distinguished guest speakers ranging from both industry and academia who deliver captivating talks on topics centered around Geometry Processing. On August 8th, we had the pleasure of hearing from Professor Lining Yao, the director of the Morphing Matter Lab at the University of California Berkeley. Her talk was a captivating journey into the world of morphing materials and their potential impact on sustainable design.
The Intersection of Design and Sustainability
Professor Yao kicked off her talk by discussing her research focus on “morphing materials” ā materials that can change properties and shapes in response to environmental stimuli. She emphasized the importance of combining human-centered design with nature-centered principles, a dual approach which aims to create products that not only benefit people but also minimize harm to the environment.
Real-World Applications of Morphing Materials
One of the examples Prof. Yao shared was a biodegradable material inspired by the seed of Erodium. This innovative design allows the seed to bury itself into the ground after rain, which enhances its germination rate. This, probably, is a fantastic example of how nature can inspire sustainable technology. She further explained that such self-burying seeds could be used for ecological restoration, which makes them a powerful tool for environmental conservation.
Figure 1: A photo of a seed of Erodium, a genus of plants with seeds that unwind coiled tails to act as a drill to plant into the ground.
Photo credits: Morphing Matter Lab – CMU
Another fascinating application of Morphing Materials is in the realm of 4D printing (an advanced form of 3D printing that incorporates the dimension of time into the manufacturing process, enabling printed objects to change shape or function over time in response to environmental stimuli such as heat, moisture, light, or other factors). Prof. Lining described how self-folding structures could revolutionize manufacturing by reducing material waste and production time. For instance, a flat sheet could be printed and then transformed into a chair, saving both resources and energy.
This short video shows a demonstration 4D printing of Self-folding materials and interfaces.
Source: Morphing Matter Lab
The fun side of Morphing Materials
Professor Lining didn’t stop at serious applications; she also introduced us to the fun and playful side of her research work. Imagine Italian pasta that can morph from a flat shape into various delicious forms when cooked! This innovative approach not only saves packaging space during transportation and storage, but also contributes to reducing plastic waste. This tells us that sustainability can be both functional and fun.
The Video below demonstrates a Flatpack of morphing pasta for sustainable food packaging and greener cooking.
Source: Morphing Matter Lab
Key Takeaways and Next steps.
Listening to Professor Yao was indeed exhilarating. Her insights made it clear that the concepts of morphing materials can have really profound implications for our everyday lives and for the future of our planet. I learned that sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s about rethinking design and functionality in a way that harmonizes with nature in general.
I’m deeply grateful for the real world applications of a field like GP, and Iām excited to explore how I can integrate this knowledge into projects that would benefit our world.
Once again, Thank you for these insight Professor Lining Yao. Your coming was indeed a blessing! Thank you SGI ’24 š
