John Dabiri: Jellyfish-Inspired Engineering

Series: Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series

Presented By:

Caltech Committee on Institute Programs

This event was digitally recorded and is available for viewing on the Caltech Theater site. Many past Watson Lectures are available for viewing online on the Caltech Theater site, and are available for purchase: DVD Order Form (PDF)

Jellyfish are the oldest, simplest, and arguably most successful species of swimming animal in the world. Yet they are primarily considered a nuisance on beaches or, at best, an attraction for aquarium-goers. Dabiri will describe how a biology-inspired approach to engineering has placed jellyfish at the center of efforts to build next-generation underwater vehicles, design more versatile onshore wind power, and even to diagnose heart failure. In the process, he takes engineering measurement techniques underwater, using SCUBA diving methods to study jellyfish and other fish species in their natural environment.

This lecture is the Richard C. Biedebach Memorial Lecture.

John O. Dabiri is Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering at Caltech. Popular Science magazine recently named Dabiri one of its "Brilliant 10" in its seventh annual listing of what it calls "the country's top young scientists to watch." Dabiri is listed as a scientist who is "poised to change the world."

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