3rd Floor Classroom/3-Flatiron Institute (162 5th Avenue)
3rd Floor Classroom/3-Flatiron Institute
162 5th Avenue
40
Description
Title: Violence and grace in biological transitions
Abstract: I will explore three transitions in biology: the rapid snap-through in the carnivorous Venus flytrap, the emergence of global coordination and fluid pumping in disordered ciliated tissues, and the intermittency of collective patterns in fish schools. During this discussion, I will elucidate the fundamental symmetries and symmetry-breaking mechanisms that lead to these transitions. These studies shed light on how physical interactions and bifurcation theory play a pivotal role in shaping biological functions and offer insights for designing intelligent systems capable of autonomous responses and adaptations to environmental changes.