SMS scnews item created by Giles Gardam at Mon 8 Oct 2012 0911
Type: Seminar
Distribution: World
Expiry: 22 Oct 2012
Calendar1: 11 Oct 2012 1300-1400
CalLoc1: Carslaw 351
Auth: gilesg@bari.maths.usyd.edu.au

SUMS: Poladian -- A geometric journey: Periodic geometry from art to biology

Speaker: Leon Poladian

Repeating patterns are very popular in art, from the mosaics of the Alhambra in Spain to
the mind-boggling designs of M.  C.  Escher.  Periodic structures also occur in nature
and cause stunning iridescent colours such as those on peacocks, beetles and butterflies
when these patterns are the same size as wavelengths of light.  This talk is an
abbreviated repeat of a recent Sydney Science Forum public talk.