The Modern Science of Origami

April 7, 2013

Robert Lang presents his program From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes: The Modern Science of Origami at the Livermore Public Library, 1188 S. Livermore Avenue, on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 2pm.  There is no charge for this event.

Origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding, has been around for centuries.  But in recent years, modern mathematical techniques have led to the creation of astonishing, realistic, and highly complex origami designs.  These techniques provide solutions for real-world engineering challenges.  Scientist and origami artist Robert Lang will show how origami has helped to create safer airbags, better telescopes, and more.

Robert J. Lang is recognized as one of the foremost origami artists in the world as well as a pioneer in computational origami and the development of formal design algorithms for folding. While working with NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spectra Diode Laboratories, and JDS Uniphase, he authored or co-authored over 80 papers and 45 patents in lasers and optoelectronics as well as authoring, co-authoring, or editing 12 books and a CD-ROM on origami. He is a full-time artist and consultant on origami and its applications to engineering problems but keeps his toes in the world of lasers, most recently as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics from 2007–2010. He has a Ph.D. in applied physics from Caltech, and received their highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award, in 2009.

The Friends of the Livermore Library have generously underwritten this program as part of the Friends Authors and Arts Series.