Course Overview
New for 2023!
The squishy and flowy matter lab, led by Dr. Anupam Pandey in the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering department at Syracuse University focuses on the mechanics of soft materials that bends, snaps, folds, and creases at a low energetic cost. These materials are the primary motif behind ‘form & function’ of a number of natural systems; the sulci in human brain, venus flytrap leaves, flexible foot of an apple snail are few such examples. Understanding the behavior of these materials is also crucial for the design and fabrication of new age technologies such as soft robotics, wearable electronics, and smart structures. In this two-week program the high school students will engage in the research activities in the lab.
Learning Objectives
They will receive a hands on experience of –
- Designing experimental set ups through rapid prototyping tools such 3D printing and laser engraving.
- Mechanical characterization of soft materials through rheometry.
- High speed video photography to observe and quantify experiments.
- Scientific writing and presentations.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: TBD
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior or senior status – or a 2023 high school graduate. Students must be from a partner organization of the Office of Pre-College Programs.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
- N/A
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – Research Immersions: Students work closely with research faculty on existing and new faculty led research projects both online and on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – Research Immersions | 2-Week Session III: Monday, July 31 – Friday, August 11, 2023 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Noncredit | Open |
Typical Day
- TBD
Faculty Bio
Anupam Pandey
Pandey’s primary research interest is understanding the mechanics of soft and squishy materials such as elastomers, hydrogels, and polymer melts. At a low energetic cost these materials can bend, fold, crease, pop or snap, exhibiting a variety of large (sometimes singular) and fast deformations. Their response emerge from an intricate coupling between geometry and material (surface and bulk) properties. Combining experimental, theoretical and numerical tools Pandey studies how soft materials behave when they are adhered to other substrates, wetted by liquid drops, or exposed to a flow. Leveraging this fundamental knowledge, Pandey’s research lab aims to advance the development of flexible and wearable electronics, sensors and actuators for soft robotics and smart, functional surfaces.