Mold it, stretch it, construct it: studying nature's techniques with Dr. Shu Yang
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Dr. Shu Yang, the Joseph Bordogna Professor and Chair of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, is making waves in the scientific community with her groundbreaking research. Her work focuses on creating smart, flexible, and adaptive materials that draw inspiration from nature.
Dr. Yang's next big research frontier is the ocean, where she is exploring the re-engineering of algae and seaweed structures to absorb microplastics, PFAS, or critical minerals. Her passion for making complex scientific concepts accessible is evident in her effective communication with students and the public.
One of Dr. Yang's most notable achievements is the development of carbon-sequestering concrete inspired by ocean biominerals. This innovative material not only helps combat climate change but also paves the way for sustainable construction.
An accidental lab moment led to the discovery of a reversible, pressure-sensitive adhesive made from hydrogel, which has potential for medical use such as wound dressings or surgical applications. Dr. Yang's latest work involves integrating bacteria and cells into engineered systems, opening up possibilities for various applications, including cosmetics and batteries.
Dr. Yang's lab transforms rigid materials into stretchable, flexible, and conformable structures through kirigami. This technique, which involves cutting and folding materials to create new shapes and properties, is often used to mimic natural patterns found in elephant skin and other biological tissues.
The connection between elephant skin, kirigami, and algae in material science and biomimicry lies in their structural and functional properties that inspire the design of flexible, adaptive, and efficient materials and surfaces. For instance, the deeply folded and wrinkled structure of elephant skin provides excellent cooling by retaining moisture and increasing surface area, inspiring biomimetic designs for cooling surfaces and facades in hot climates.
Kirigami allows materials to expand, contract, and deform in controlled ways, enabling soft robotics, adaptable materials, and stretchable electronics. Meanwhile, algae, with their flexible yet structurally robust surfaces, inspire materials that can adapt to environmental conditions such as light, moisture, or temperature changes.
Together, these biological models inspire the creation of smart, flexible, and adaptive materials that combine the wrinkled structures of elephant skin for cooling, the transformative geometry of kirigami for flexibility, and the adaptive living properties of algae for sustainability and responsiveness. This confluence represents an exciting frontier in biomimicry where natural structures inspire energy-efficient, durable, and multifunctional materials and devices.
Dr. Yang's philosophy is that innovation doesn't always mean inventing from scratch. She encourages repurposing and redesigning existing materials to solve new problems. Her lab thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration, involving mathematicians, architects, clinicians, and others in her projects.
Dr. Yang's research also includes the use of kirigami to create passive airflow systems that mimic tornado vortices, harvesting fog water without power. She is one of National Geographic's inaugural 33 Extraordinary Changemakers, recognised for her significant contributions to science and technology.
In Dr. Yang's own words, "Nothing is wasted. Knowledge is always accumulative, as long as you stay curious." Her dedication to her work and her innovative approach to material science promise exciting developments in the field in the years to come.
Innovation in science and technology is exemplified by Dr. Yang's development of smart, flexible, and adaptive materials that draw inspiration from nature, such as the carbon-sequestering concrete made from ocean biominerals and the reversible, pressure-sensitive adhesive made from hydrogel. Her research in composites, like kirigami and algae structures, offers possibilities for materials that can adapt to environmental conditions and contribute to sustainable construction and energy-efficient devices.
