Ingenious Worlds: Nature, Metal, Earth

Nature is full of surprising tricks. Some beetles can suddenly launch themselves into the air without using their legs, and leaves can slowly curl into beautiful shapes as they dry. In this talk, I’ll show how these behaviours come from simple ideas like snapping and bending. Once we understand them, we can start building tiny robots and structures that jump, move, or change shape — all without motors or electronics.

Birmingham was at the centre of a great leap in Metallurgy during the Industrial Revolution that made possible the manufacturing of steam engines and much more! This legacy, continues to date with research and innovation in the University of Birmingham for applications in a range of fields, spanning from power generation for aerospace and automotive to energy storage technologies and circular economy or to answer fundamental research questions, such as the origin of Dark Matter.

What’s hidden beneath your feet? From pipes and cables to buried treasure and natural resources, the ground below us is full of surprises. But how can we find them without digging? In this talk, I’ll show how scientists “see” underground using subtle signals measured at the surface. Through simple ideas, you’ll discover how different techniques help us explore the hidden world beneath us.