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Engineering

School of Engineering Public Lecture - Registration Form

Innovative Design and Nature - Free Event

Friday 16 May 2025 I 18:30-19:15 I FAB0.08, Faculty of Arts Building

Professor Wanda Lewis

Wanda is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. More information

Wanda Lewis

Nature Informed Design
Join us for an enlightening talk on Nature-Informed Design - a concept that takes inspiration from nature to create smarter, more sustainable buildings and bridges.

This lecture, accompanied by stunning model displays and demonstrations, will present Nature-informed designs using a ‘form-finding’ approach that allows buildings to be shaped by forces acting on them. The results will be discussed in the context of structural failures and will be contrasted with famous structures, such as Sydney Opera House, the ‘Nest’, and the O2 Arena - examples of dictated architectural forms.

New, constant stress arch forms will be presented. Their response to loading is so good that materials as weak as snow can be used in their construction. Further comparisons with the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis will provide new design insights. Nature, as a teacher of good design, challenges our belief that… ‘we can build whatever we like’…

More information

Our exhibition of models and interactive displays showing 'form-finding' design, an activity presented by our computer-aided design specialist Martin Millson will take place at 18:00-18:30 & 19:15-19:45.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

This event is suitable for 18+. 14+ are welcome with an accompanying adult.

Complimentary light refreshments will be available prior to the lecture, including some vegan, gluten and dairy free options.

Getting to the campus

Places are limited so if you have registered and are no longer able to attend, please email eng.communications@warwick.ac.uk

Please register for your place at this event by completing the below form - by Friday 2 May

Number of places required (required)

As places are limited, if you have registered and are no longer able to attend, please email eng.communications@warwick.ac.uk

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

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