Putting the “S” into mechanics - Professor Keith Seffen

Schedule

Mon Nov 10 2025 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Bristol Myers-Squibb lecture theatre | Cambridge, EN

Advertisement
The structural mechanics of shape-changing structures: from bending armadillos, self-deploying satellites, to roll-up displays.
Most structures, e.g. buildings & bridges, are designed to be near rigid when loaded: in view of high winds or heavy traffic, their movements are barely noticeable. Formally, they are stiff, strong and stable, in terms of their “structural mechanics” – the study of their loaded deformation. Large movements from material weakness, overloading, or bad design, typically portend failure & eventual collapse. Embracing large movements, i.e. deliberate changes in shape, can admit new behaviour if safe and reversible, to yield transformer-like technologies and simple explanations of biological morphology, for example. In this talk, I will describe several structural mechanics principles for making shape-changing structures, out of ordinary materials, complete with physical demonstrations.
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Bristol Myers-Squibb lecture theatre, 32 Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EG, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Cambridge Philosophical Society

Host or Publisher Cambridge Philosophical Society

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Cambridge

Mindfulness for Homerton Staff and Students
Mon, 10 Nov at 12:30 pm Mindfulness for Homerton Staff and Students

Dance Studio, Homerton College, University of Cambridge

WORKSHOPS
#AgileLeaders Unlocking Challenging Targets with Small Molecules and Beyond
Mon, 10 Nov at 01:30 pm #AgileLeaders Unlocking Challenging Targets with Small Molecules and Beyond

Botanic House

WORKSHOPS BUSINESS
Alice Meynell Poems - Carcanet Launch, at Heffers Bookshop
Mon, 10 Nov at 06:15 pm Alice Meynell Poems - Carcanet Launch, at Heffers Bookshop

Heffers Bookshop

ART LITERARY-ART
BLACK SABBITCH - The All Female Black Sabbath LIVE @ THE SIX SIX, CAMBRIDGE
Mon, 10 Nov at 07:00 pm BLACK SABBITCH - The All Female Black Sabbath LIVE @ THE SIX SIX, CAMBRIDGE

170 East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1DB, United Kingdom

ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC
Gareth Malone at Cambridge Corn Exchange
Mon, 10 Nov at 07:30 pm Gareth Malone at Cambridge Corn Exchange

Cambridge Corn Exchange

Indie Rock Night \u2219 ARCTIC MONKEYS VS OASIS *10 \u00a33 TICKETS LEFT*
Mon, 10 Nov at 10:00 pm Indie Rock Night ∙ ARCTIC MONKEYS VS OASIS *10 £3 TICKETS LEFT*

MASH

CONTESTS ART
Son of a Carpenter Tour
Tue, 11 Nov at 10:00 am Son of a Carpenter Tour

Cambridge Corn Exchange

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Yoga Class for Homerton Staff and Fellows
Tue, 11 Nov at 12:30 pm Yoga Class for Homerton Staff and Fellows

Dance Studio, Homerton College, University of Cambridge

WORKSHOPS HEALTH-WELLNESS
Using Syringe Pumps
Fri, 16 Sep at 11:00 am Using Syringe Pumps

Education & Conference Centre, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

NONPROFIT WORKSHOPS
Business Networking in Cambridge \u2013 Serious Connections, Real Results!
Thu, 16 Feb at 09:30 am Business Networking in Cambridge – Serious Connections, Real Results!

Networking in Cambridge

BUSINESS
Black Criminology Network and ADEJA community discussion at Cambridge
Wed, 24 Jul at 12:00 pm Black Criminology Network and ADEJA community discussion at Cambridge

Cambridge University

SPORTS WORKSHOPS
The Black Criminology Network and ADEJA community discussion
Wed, 31 Jul at 12:30 pm The Black Criminology Network and ADEJA community discussion

Cambridge University

SPORTS MEETUPS
CUMHS X AMH Student Medical Humanities Conference
Sat, 18 Oct at 09:00 am CUMHS X AMH Student Medical Humanities Conference

Newnham College, Cambridge

BUSINESS ART
Virtual Health and Well-Being Summit 2025
Sat, 18 Oct at 09:00 am Virtual Health and Well-Being Summit 2025

ARU Cambridge

HEALTH-WELLNESS BUSINESS
Tyndale House Day Conference - The World of The Bible
Sat, 18 Oct at 10:00 am Tyndale House Day Conference - The World of The Bible

The C3 Church: Cambridge

ART LITERARY-ART
The Deep Experience of God: The English Mystics
Sun, 19 Oct at 11:00 am The Deep Experience of God: The English Mystics

Bene’t Street, CB2 3PT Cambridge, United Kingdom

ART LITERARY-ART
Cambridge Junction \u2022 Creative Learning Symposium: Take Two
Mon, 20 Oct at 10:30 am Cambridge Junction • Creative Learning Symposium: Take Two

Cambridge Junction

ART ENTERTAINMENT
Go Meet, 95 Regent Street
Tue, 21 Oct at 10:00 am Go Meet, 95 Regent Street

95 Regent St

BUSINESS
A Curious History of Medicine
Wed, 22 Oct at 07:30 pm A Curious History of Medicine

Rock Road Library

EXHIBITIONS ART
The Ambassador, the Grand Duke, his Wife and her Lover \u2013 a Talk by Sir Tony Brenton, OBE
Fri, 24 Oct at 06:30 pm The Ambassador, the Grand Duke, his Wife and her Lover – a Talk by Sir Tony Brenton, OBE

Trinity Hall College

ART BUSINESS

What's Happening Next in Cambridge?

Discover Cambridge Events