Jellyfish are the oldest, simplest, and arguably most successful species of swimming animal in the world. Yet they are primarily considered a nuisance on beaches or, at best, an attraction for aquarium-goers. In this talk, Dabiri will describe how a biology-inspired approach to engineering has placed jellyfish at the center of efforts to build next-generation underwater vehicles, design more versatile wind power, and even to diagnose heart failure. In the process, he takes engineering measurement techniques underwater, using SCUBA diving methods to study jellyfish and leveraging robotic hybrids of the animals themselves to explore our oceans.
John O. Dabiri is the Centennial Chair Professor at Caltech, with appointments in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories (GALCIT) and Mechanical Engineering. A recipient of the National Medal of Science, Dabiri takes inspiration from unexpected biological systems like jellyfish and fish schools, combining biological experiments and field work with concepts from fluid mechanics to impact technologies ranging from wind energy to biomedicine. Current research interests include biological fluid dynamics in the ocean, the physics of turbulence transition, and development of new measurement techniques.
Duane Smith Auditorium, 1300 Diamond Drive, 87544, View Map
1300 Diamond Drive , 87544
Free