NEWS BRIEFS

IN THIS ISSUEFaculty and Staff Achievements | 2

Career Resources to Share with Graduate Students | 3

Homecoming Events Open to Faculty, Staff | 4

October 2, 2017

Georgia Tech’s Faculty/Staff Newspaper • Vol. 42, No. 20 • whistle.gatech.edu

Tech Participating inAtlanta Bike ChallengeAtlanta businesses will compete against each other to see which has the most employees riding bikes from Oct. 1–31. Rides do not have to be to or from work. Sign up to participate at:

c.gatech.edu/bikechallenge

Is Anyone Slowing Down?WABE recently interviewed School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Kari Watkins on whether neighborhood signs are having any impact.

c.gatech.edu/slowdown

AMELIA PAVLIK GRADUATE EDUCATION AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents has appointed three Georgia Tech faculty members as Regents Professors.

Marilyn Brown, School of Public Policy: Brown is a Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems in Public Policy, where she created and currently directs the Climate and Energy Policy

Lab. She has served on eight committees of the National Academies of Sciences — currently serving on the Geosciences Committee — and is in her second term on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee.

Suresh Sitaraman, Morris M. Bryan Jr. Professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering: Sitaraman is recognized internationally for his research and scholarship in the fabrication, charac-terization, thermo-mechanical modeling, and reliable design of microscale and nanoscale structures to address challenges

Three Faculty Members Earn Regents Professor Title

see REGENTS, page 2

KRISTEN BAILEY INSTITUTE COMMUNICATIONS

As October begins, it will only be a matter of weeks before employees can voluntarily make selections for 2018 health benefits.

Open Enrollment this year will be from Oct. 30 through Nov. 10. With Open Enrollment on the horizon, Georgia Tech Human Resources encourages employees to familiarize themselves with the new

online benefits administration system well in advance. A video tutorial has been made available to help. To learn more, visit ohr.gatech.edu/oneusg-connect. To access the OneUSG Connect – Benefits portal, visit techworks.gatech.edu and click the Benefits icon under Applications and Resources.

Complete materials about 2018 benefits from the University System of Georgia will be mailed to employees’ homes in the coming weeks. Additionally, the annual Benefits Fair will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Plan Now for Open Enrollment This Month

VICTOR ROGERS INSTITUTE COMMUNICATIONS

Georgia Tech employees can save money on a variety of goods and services – many of which they are already buying at full price. Cost-conscious employees can tap into any of three discount programs with savings in a variety of categories such as legal and financial services, transportation and travel services, and health and wellness, among others.

The discount programs available to

Tech employees are Georgia Tech Perks and Programs, Team Georgia (for state of Georgia employees), and University System of Georgia Perks at Work. Candice Bovian, work-life specialist in Human Resources, highlighted some of the perks during a recent GT Advantage event sponsored by Tech’s Staff Council.

“Everyone should be getting a discount on your cell phone bill because all three programs offer discounts on cell phone service,” said Bovian, who pointed out that the amount of the discounts may vary from one program to the next. When researching the discounts, she even discovered that one of the programs

Employee Discounts Just a Few Clicks Away

see PERKS, page 3

JOHN TOON INSTITUTE COMMUNICATIONS

Sand-swimming lizards, slithering robotic snakes, dusk-flying moths and running roaches all have one thing in common: They’re increasingly being studied by physicists interested in understanding the shared strategies these creatures have developed to overcome the challenges of moving though their environ-ments.

By analyzing the rules governing the locomotion of these creatures, “physics of living systems” researchers are learning how animals success-fully negotiate unstable surfaces like wet sand, maintain rapid motion on flat surfaces using the advantageous mechanics of their bodies, and fly in ways that would never work for modern aircraft. The knowledge these researchers develop could be useful to the designers of robots and flying vehicles of all kinds.

“Locomotion is a very natural access point for understanding how biolog-ical systems interact with the world,” said Simon Sponberg, an assistant professor in the School of Physics and School of Biological Sciences. “When they move, animals change the environment around them so they can push off from it and move through it

in different ways. This capability is a defining feature of animals.”

Sponberg has spent his career bridging the gap between physics and organismal biology – the study of complex creatures. His work includes studying how hawk moths slow their nervous systems to maintain vision during low-light conditions, and how muscle is a versatile material able to change function from a brake to a motor or spring.

He recently published a feature article, the cover story for the September issue of the American Institute of Physics magazine Physics Today, on the role of physics in animal locomotion. The article was not intended as a review of the entire field, but rather to show how organismal physics – integrating complex physio-logical systems, the mechanics and the surrounding environment into a whole animal – has inspired his career.

“The intersection of physics and organismal biology is a very exciting one right now,” said Sponberg, who is also a researcher with the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. “The assembly and interaction of multiple natural components manifests new behaviors and dynamics. The collection of these natural components manifests different patterns than the individual parts, and that’s fascinating.”

Supported by new initiatives, Georgia Tech scientists are learning

A Physical Challenge

see PHYSICS, page 4

Design inspiration from how animals move in response to environment

EVENTS

PAGE 2 • October 2, 2017 whistle.gatech.edu • THE WHISTLE

EVENTS continued on page 3

Calendar submissions should be emailed to editor@comm.gatech.edu at least 10 days prior to desired publication date. For more information, call 404-385-7061.

Archives are posted at whistle.gatech.edu.

Georgia Tech is a unit of the University System of Georgia.Georgia Tech’s Faculty/Staff Newspaper

Editor: Kristen BaileyPhotos: Rob Felt or Christopher Moore, unless noted

Published biweekly throughout the year by Georgia Tech Institute Communications.

comm.gatech.edu

ARTS AND CULTURE

Oct. 5–6 DramaTech Theater (located on the back side of the Ferst Center for the Arts) presents High Ground at 8 p.m. dramatech.org

Oct. 13 Arts@Tech hosts the Spanish Harlem Orchestra at 8 p.m. at the Ferst Center for the Arts. arts.gatech.edu

WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING

Oct. 5 The Counseling Center hosts a workshop on Social Media:

Managing the Illusion of Connection from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 115, Instructional Center. counseling.gatech.edu

Oct. 10 The Georgia Tech Library posts a patent search workshop from noon to 2 p.m. in the Homer Rice Center, Ground Floor West, Library. c.gatech.edu/patentsearch

Oct. 13 The Center for Teaching and Learning hosts a workshop for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. How Learning Works will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Piedmont Room, Student Center, will introduce participants to how the brain works and explore the impacts of prior knowledge, organization, practice, and feedback on knowledge retention, transfer, and mastery. A workshop on Teaching

With Technology will immediately follow. ctl.gatech.edu

Oct. 17 The Georgia Tech Library hosts a session on Demystifying Copyright from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Wilby Room, Library. fairuse.gatech.edu

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Oct. 11 Human Resources hosts a Be Well session on How to Read Food Labels from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 320, Student Center. ohr.gatech.edu/bewell

(Left) Presad Tetali teaches a class in the Graduate Study Algorithms, Combinatorics, and Optimization program. (Right) Marilyn Brown teaches a graduate seminar. (Below) Graduate student Wei Chen, Professor Suresh Sitaraman, and graduate student Nick Ginga examine a carbon nanotube sample against a backdrop of scanning electron microscope images of carbon nanotubes.

Photos by Rob Felt

in materials, processing, and reliability that come with advances in wireless and optoelec-tronic systems. He has been named an ASME Fellow and a Sigma Xi inductee for sustained research.

Presad Tetali, School of Mathematics and School of Computer Science: Tetali is currently the associate chair for research in Mathematics. His research interests span discrete mathematics, probability, functional analysis, and theory of computing. Tetali served as the editor-in-chief of the SIAM Journal of Discrete Mathematics (2009-2011), and as the director of Georgia Tech’s interdis-ciplinary research Algorithms & Randomness Center (ARC), from 2011-2014.

“The Regents Professor title is the highest academic recognition bestowed by the University System of Georgia, and demonstrates excellence and achievement in teaching and research,” said Rafael L. Bras, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs and the K. Harrison Brown Family Chair. “I want to congratulate Professors Brown, Sitaraman, and Tetali for their accomplishments and thank them for their service to Georgia Tech.”

Each year, the college deans may nominate

two academic faculty members for the Regents Professor title and one research faculty member for the Regents Researcher title. The Georgia Tech Research Institute may nominate two research faculty members for Regents Researcher. The titles are awarded upon approval of the USG chancellor and its Committee on Academic Affairs only with unanimous recommendation of the univer-sity’s president, the executive vice president for research, the chief academic officer, the

appropriate academic dean, and three other faculty members.

The nominations were approved by the Board of Regents (BOR) at their Sept. 13 meeting. During the meeting, the BOR also approved the renewal of the title of Regents Professor for Mark Hay (Biological Sciences) and Dimitri Mavris (Aerospace Engineering), and Regents Researcher for Helena Mitchell (Public Policy) and Lora Weiss (Georgia Tech Research Institute).

REGENTS, from page 1

Marilyn Brown, professor in the School of Public Policy, received one of five Champion in Energy Efficiency in Industry Awards from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

C. Ross Ethier, professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and a researcher in the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, was inducted into the Biomedical Engineering Society’s 2017 Class of BMES Fellows.

The American Society of Civil Engineers Georgia Section honored Civil and Environmental Engineering master’s student Maya Goldman and Associate Professor David Scott with President’s Awards at the group’s annual banquet in August. The group also recognized environ-mental engineering master’s student Annie Blissit as the Young Civil Engineer of the Year.

School of Materials Science and Engineering Assistant Professor Josh Kacher was awarded the Department of Energy’s Basic Energy Science Early Career Award for his project titled Fundamental Study of Fatigue Crack Initiation at Grain and Twin Boundaries in Austenitic Stainless Steel.

Guanghui “George” Lan, associate professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has been appointed to an A. Russell Chandler III Early Career Professorship.

Hang Lu, the Love Family Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is co-principal investigator of a project that won a National Science Foundation Next Generation Networks Neuroscience (NeuroNex) Award, designed to aid the research community as it pursues one of its greatest challenges: understanding the brain.

Elliot Moore II was appointed associate chair for Undergraduate Affairs in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Elsa Reichmanis, professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, was selected as the 2018 recipient of the American Chemical Society’s National Award in the Chemistry of Materials, sponsored by DuPont.

Aerospace Engineering Professor Mitchell L.R. Walker II has been chosen as the College of Engineering’s recipient of the 2017 Georgia Power Professor of Excellence Award. He received the honor on Sept. 9 during the Jacksonville State football game.

H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering’s Assistant Professor Yao Xie has been appointed to the Harold R. and Mary Anne Nash Early Career Professorship.

FACULTY AND STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS

EVENTS

For a more comprehensive listing of events, or to add your own, visit calendar.gatech.edu.

THE WHISTLE • whistle.gatech.edu October 2, 2017 • PAGE 3

Oct. 24 Human Resources hosts a Be Well session on Social Smoking: No Big

Deal? from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 229, Human Resources Building. ohr.gatech.edu/bewell

SEMINARS AND LECTURES

Oct. 5–6 The Digital Building Lab Symposium will bring together panelists and experts for a two-day event on Creating the High Tech Building

Ecomony at the Historic Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech. The event is free for the Tech community. Register at: dbl.gatech.edu/symposium

Oct. 17 The LGBTQIA Resource Center, Institute Diversity, and African American Student Union host a panel on Fruits of Our Labor: Racial

Justice and Queer Liberation in

the Deep South from 5 to 6 p.m. in DramaTech Theater. A reception and refreshments will precede the discussion at 4:30 p.m. c.gatech.edu/fruitsoflabor

Oct. 19 Rutt Bridges, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences’ 2017 Alumnus of the Year, will discuss the topic of Understanding Disruption from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 1205, Ford Environmental Science and Technology Building. c.gatech.edu/disruption

MISCELLANEOUS

Oct. 9–10 Classes will not meet during Fall Break. registrar.gatech.edu

Oct. 18 The Staff Council hosts a general meeting from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Crescent Room, Student Center. staffcouncil.gatech.edu

Oct. 18 The IMPACT Speaker Series hosts Stan Chia, Tech alumnus and chief operating officer of Grubhub, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the LeCraw Auditorium, Scheller College of Business. scheller.gatech.edu/impact

Oct. 21 The Yellow Jackets host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bobby Dodd Stadium. ramblinwreck.com

AMELIA PAVLIK GRADUATE EDUCATION AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

Plan for the job you want in 10 years. Vanessa Cox recalls this as being one of the best pieces of career advice she ever received from a professor.

“The professor recommended not to plan for your next job but to really think about where you want to be years down the road,” said Cox, who is earning her Ph.D. in chemistry. “Initially, I felt overwhelmed by this idea, but I took the advice seriously and started to prepare. From writing resumes and cover letters to networking at conferences, it gets easier with practice — so start early!”

The good news is that the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Development’s professional development arm and other units offer plenty of resources designed to help graduate students prepare.

“Consider us a one-stop-shop to help you connect to career and professional development resources at Georgia Tech,” said Jana Stone, director of the Professional Development Unit. “From online tools to the on-campus workshops, there’s something that will appeal to everyone, regardless of what career you’re most interested in.”

For faculty members, there are several resources to which they can point graduate students who are embarking on their career planning journeys.

Career and Professional Development Roadmap

Offered in two versions — one for master’s students and one for Ph.D. or thesis master’s students — the online roadmap resource helps students navigate their path toward graduation and a successful career. Get started at grad.gatech.edu/career-roadmap, select your degree stage (early, mid, or late), and pick a topic to explore (career, skills, or wellness — for master’s students; career, teaching, research,

or wellness — for Ph.D. and thesis master’s students).

On-Campus Workshops Each semester, a variety of in-person

career development workshops are offered on topics including resume preparation, interview skills, and evaluating job offers. You can find a current list of sessions at career.gatech.edu/workshops. Or, if you need one-on-one assistance, you can schedule an appointment with a graduate career advisor at career.gatech.edu/graduate-advisors. If you’re specifically interested in an academic position, check out the preparing future faculty workshops offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl.gatech.edu/grad-students/workshops.

Graduate Communication Certificate Looking for a way to improve your

communication skills when it comes to areas such as public speaking, networking, and writing job applications? This program can help graduate students hone skills for

careers in industry, government, or academia. It’s sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies, in collaboration with the Graduate Student Government Association, the Library, Communication Center, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Center for Career Discovery and Development, and is comprised of the following components:

• Core workshops on topics such as public speaking and communication ethics.

• Elective workshops to help build proficiency in specific areas, including topics such as writing your CV or resume, analyzing and presenting your research, and interviewing skills.

• Capstone experience that will require you to apply what you’ve learned and receive feedback from Tech communication specialists.

Participants complete the program at their own pace and receive a signed and dated certificate upon completion. For more information, visit grad.gatech.edu/comm-cert-program.

Versatile Ph.D.If you’re interested in a nonacademic career

after graduation, this resource can assist. It’s a free, web-based resource open to all Tech students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff, as well graduate student alumni who are within one year of finishing their degrees. When you login, you’ll find the following resources:

• Information on the variety of career options available to STEM and humanities Ph.D.s.

• First-person stories by Ph.D.s describing how their careers evolved after moving out of the academy, including promotions, advancement, and signature accomplish-ments.

• Discussion forums sharing information on a wide range of specific Ph.D.-friendly careers (provided by those in the careers), along with their answers to questions from students like you.

Find out more at grad.gatech.edu/versatilephd.

4 Career Resources to Share with Graduate Students3 Tips for Success

Vanessa Cox offers the following tips to graduate students:

Don’t wait. Start thinking about your career options and goals several years before you’ll graduate. Go to seminars, listen to panels, collect business cards, talk to people about what they love about their job, and ask yourself if you’d love to do that, too.

Prepare a pitch. Have a 30-second elevator speech about what you want to do for a career. If you’re more concrete, people have an easier time putting you in touch with relevant professionals in their network.

Be prepared. Have business cards and resumes on hand, just in case. I can’t count how many people have asked me, “Do you have your resume with you right now?” You always want to be able to say “yes.”

PERKS, from page 1

offered a better deal than she was getting on her service.

In addition to most of the major cell phone providers offering discounts, there are also discounts on other items that most people purchase, such as computers and various Microsoft Office software packages. Discounts are even available on OtterBox cell phone cases and Beats by Dre headphones.

Some examples of savings through Georgia Tech Perks and Programs include discounts on parking for those that carpool, free will preparation via the university’s Employee Assistance Program provider, and gym memberships, which includes outdoor equipment rental at competitive prices.

For employees looking to save on outdoor adventures, Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech (ORGT) is the way to go, according to David Knobbe, assistant director, Campus Recreation

Center. ORGT has high-quality outdoor recreation equipment available for rent.

“If you want to structure your own outdoor adventure, and you need a boat, a tent, or a backpack, come see us and we can outfit you for a great opportunity,” Knobbe said.

ORGT runs about 155 day and overnight adventure

programs. Although most of the programs are targeted

to students, there are lots of opportunities for Tech employees to engage with ORGT.

“This year we’ll do 19 expeditions of at least six days, with most of them being closer to

two weeks,” Knobbe said. “We’ll be in eight countries.” On the State of

Georgia site, there are discounts on tickets to the Atlanta Hawks,

Atlanta Braves, the Georgia Aquarium, and more.

USG’s Perks at Work site includes a little bit of everything. One of its greatest benefits is WOWPoints, which accumulate with each purchase. For every dollar spent, 100

WOWPoints are earned. These WOWPoints can be used as cash for shopping.

Looking across the three programs, there are discounts available for almost anything an employee would consider purchasing.

“I would suggest that employees compar-ison shop,” Bovian said, “because you never know.”

Get the Perks

Georgia Tech Perks and Programs Any faculty, staff member, or retiree with Georgia Tech login credentials is eligible. Some discounts extend to family members. www.ohr.gatech.edu/perksandprograms

State of Georgia Discounts Any state of Georgia employee or retiree is eligible. http://team.georgia.gov/discounts

USG Perks at Work Discounts and Programs Any faculty, staff member, or retiree with Georgia Tech login credentials is eligible. Discounts extend to family members. Can invite up to five friends and family members to sign up. https://www.perksatwork.com

CLASSIFIEDS

PAGE 4 • October 2, 2017 whistle.gatech.edu • THE WHISTLE

Ads run for at least three issues in the order in which they are received. Submit your 35-word-or-less ad to editor@comm.gatech.edu.

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REAL ESTATE/ROOMMATESGraduate student seeking 1BR apartment or room to rent Nov. 1 through Feb. 28. Preferably walking distance to Tech Square. Contact stevenesammon@hotmail.com.

1BR, unfurnished, newly renovated condo, walking distance to Tech. Has all kitchen appliances, laundry room w/ new W/D, spacious bathroom, gated parking. $1,295/mo. 1075 Peachtree Walk, Unit A-106. Contact Julie, 678-825-0426.

Looking for young working professional, graduate student, or visiting professor to rent private bedroom and bath (w/ access to all living spaces) in Buckhead. $800/mo. Includes utilities, cable, internet, parking. Fully furnished large condo in small private community. Neat, clean home. Walking distance to food markets, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, public transit. Request 1-year agreement. Contact 404-514-7662, reba.darr@gmail.com.

2BR/1BA condo for sale. 1,100 sq. ft., hardwood floors, separate living and dining rooms, street level, beautiful courtyard, reserved parking and storage. Two blocks from Lindbergh MARTA station. Call 404-307-8182 for showing.

Male employee seeking roommate to share 1BR apartment near Lenox MARTA Station. Very quiet, near shopping. Contact Jose, 404-904-0202.

MISCELLANEOUSFor sale. Round dining room table and four chairs. Like new. $200 OBO. proberts@ce.gatech.edu.

Free loving, playful young adult female calico cat desperately needs a forever home. She is spayed, has her shots, and is litter-box trained. Email Marilyn Smith (ms55@gatech.edu) or Josie Giles (josie@gatech.edu).

One-of-a-kind Signature Bryan Ashley marble top cherry wood bedroom dresser/vanity. Like new. $300. Contact taylornov42008@yahoo.com or 678-508-2462 for photos.

Oak table, round, 48-in., four legs, w/ two 10-in. extensions and six fancy-back chairs. $170. Contact james.cagle@mse.gatech.edu.

Free yellow jacket nest removal. Nests to be used for research in the School of Biology. Call 404-385-6311 or e-mail michael.goodisman@biology.gatech.edu.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

Keynote Presentation: Inside the International Space Station with Colonel R. Shane Kimbrough 7 to 8 p.m. Global Learning CenterRecent Commander of the International Space Station, Col. Kimbrough (MS OR ‘98) will share his experiences in space and how Georgia Tech impacted his career as a NASA astronaut. Moderated by Emmy Award-winning CNN correspondent and former Georgia Tech parent Tom Foreman.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

Faculty Feature: Sy Goodman 10 to 11 a.m. Global Learning CenterAs a Regents Professor and Professor of international affairs and computing in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Sy Goodman’s research includes the impact of science and technology on the American Civil War, World War II, and the Cold War.

Traditions Presentation: 100 Years Ago at Georgia Tech 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.Global Learning CenterThe year of 1917 was an auspicious one at the Georgia School of Technology. The Nation entered the Great War and Tech embraced it fully by opening

an Aviation School. Heisman led the Yellow Jackets to a national champion-ship with the newly dubbed “Golden Tornado.” Join Tech storyteller Marilyn Somers to hear the tales of “derring-do” on the battlefront and on The Flats.

President’s Update 1 to 2 p.m.Global Learning CenterGeorgia Tech continues to experience a time of unparalleled momentum. G.P. “Bud” Peterson, Tech’s 11th president, will share an update on the Institute’s global, regional, and local impact as well as other things happening around campus.

Robotarium Open House 2 to 3 p.m.Room 261, Van Leer BuildingVisit the first-of-its-kind, remotely accessible swarm robotics lab: The Robotarium. The Robotarium is home to nearly 100 machines that can be used by researchers from all over the world.

Campus Walking and Bus Tours 3:30 to 5 p.m.Global Learning CenterJoin Georgia Tech Student Ambassadors as they take attendees on a tour around campus highlighting infamous Tech landmarks as well as new additions.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

Ramblin’ Wreck ParadeTime TBDFowler StreetCheck out this year’s parade of classic cars and engineering oddities. If you are planning on going to the football game, this is a must see Tech Tradition before kick-off!

Ramblin’ Wreck Rally Tailgate Tech Tower LawnEnjoy a pre-game party, get free Georgia Tech swag to wear to the game, have your picture taken with the Wreck, and enjoy live entertainment from The Mustangs. Buzz’s antics, the Tech band’s fanfare, and cheerleaders’ spirit complete the revelry of a true Tech tailgate experience. Tailgate party is free for all attendees.

Football vs. Wake Forest TBA (7-10 days before)Bobby Dodd StadiumFootball tickets purchased through the Alumni Association are for general stadium seating, located in the upper west stands. Reunion alumni (who purchase tickets through the Alumni Association) will be seated with classmates based on availability. Tickets are $55.

Register to attend events at gthome-coming.gatech.edu.

CELEBRATE HOMECOMINGMany of the Alumni Association’s Homecoming events may be of interest to more than just alumni and

fans. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in several events during Homecoming festivities.

the equations that dictate how snakes move, understanding how the hair spacing on the bodies of bees help them stay clean, and using X-ray equipment to see how an unusual African lizard “swims” through dry sand.

“It’s a really exciting time to be working at the intersection of evolutionary organismal biology that is realized in these living systems that have come about through the process of evolution, composed of seemingly very complex systems,” he said. “Biological systems are inescapably complex, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t simple patterns of behavior that we can understand. We now have the modern tools, approaches and theory that we need to be able to extract physical patterns from biological systems.”

From Feedback to ExperimentationEngineered systems use feedback about the

effects of their actions to adjust their future activities, and animals do the same to control their movement. Scientists can manipulate this feedback to understand how complex systems are put together and use the feedback to design experiments rather than just analyzing what is there.

“We use feedback all the time to move through our environment, and feedback is a really special thing that fundamentally affects how dynamics occur,” said Sponberg. “But using feedback to design experiments is really sort of new.”

For example, in the study of how hawk moths track flowers during low-light conditions, he and his colleagues used feedback dynamics to isolate how the moth’s brain adjusts its processing in dim light. The moths can still accurately track flower movements that occur less than two times per second – which matches the frequency at which the flowers sway in the wind.

Animals are composed of many systems operating at multiple time scales simulta-neously – brain neurons, nerves and the individual fibers of muscles with molecular motors. These muscle fibers are arranged in an active crystalline lattice such that X-rays fired through them create a regular diffraction pattern. Understanding these multiscale living assemblages provides new insights into how animals manage complex actions.

Sponberg notes that robots are playing a larger and larger role in the physics labora-tory as functional models that can examine principles of movement by interacting with the real world. In the laboratory of Associate Professor Dan Goldman – one of Sponberg’s colleagues – robotic snakes, turtles, crabs and other creatures help scientists understand what they’re observing in the natural world.

“Moving physical models – robots – can be very powerful tools for understanding these complex systems,” Sponberg said. “They can allow us to do experiments on robots that we couldn’t do on animals to see how they interact with complex environments. We can see what physics in these systems is essential to their behaviors.”

Sponberg was inspired to study the interac-tion of organismal biology and physics by the remarkable diversity of animal movement and by nonlinear dynamics, a field made popular when he was a young student by the 1987 best-selling book Chaos: Making a New Science, authored by James Gleick.

“I voted on this with my career choice, so I think this is a very exciting area of science,” he added.

PHYSICS, from page 1

At left, Simon Sponberg, an assistant professor in the School of Physics and School of Biological Sciences, with research technical Steven Chandler.