From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes: The Modern Science of Origami

Join STEM for this Speaker Series Event

Photo by Steven Heller, ©2008 

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. But these techniques are also providing solutions for real-world engineering challenges. Find out how origami has helped create safer airbags, better telescopes, and more.

Join us on
Wednesday, April 18
Des Plaines Campus • Room 1550

Lunch: 12:15 p.m.
(RSVP here or Gloria Liu at glorial@oakton.edu or 847-635-1738 required.)

Program Start: 1 p.m.

Faculty Discussion Opportunity: 2:15 p.m.

Robert Lang is one of the world’s foremost origami artists as well as a pioneer in computational origami and developing formal design algorithms for folding. A full-time artist and consultant, he holds a Ph.D. in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology. While working with NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spectra Diode Laboratories, and JDS Uniphase, Lang authored or co-authored more than 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 served as editor-in-chief of the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics from 2007–2010, and received Caltech’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.

Sponsored by the Center for Promoting STEM, Oakton Student Government, and the STEM Club. Questions? Contact Gloria Liu at glorial@oakton.edu or 847.635.1738.