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SUMMARY:Spontaneous shape transformations of active surfaces - Alexander M
 ietke\, University of Oxford
DTSTART:20260216T143000Z
DTEND:20260216T153000Z
UID:TALK241600@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jia CHEN
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:  \n\nBiological matter has the fascinating ability t
 o autonomously generate material deformations via intrinsic active forces\
 , where the latter are often present within effectively two-dimensional st
 ructures. The dynamics of such “active surfaces” inevitably entails a 
 complex\, self-organized interplay between the geometry of a surface and i
 ts mechanical interactions with the surrounding. In this talk\, I will fir
 st discuss general numerical challenges in analyzing self-organizing activ
 e surfaces and the bifurcation structure of emergent shape spaces. I will 
 then focus on active surfaces with broken up-down symmetry\, of which the 
 eukaryotic cell cortex and epithelial tissues are key biological examples.
  A natural interplay between active stress and curvature leads for such su
 rfaces to a comprehensive library of spontaneous shape transformations tha
 t resemble stereotypical morphogenetic processes. These include cell-divis
 ion-like invaginations and the autonomous formation of tubular surfaces of
  arbitrary length\, both of which robustly overcome well-known shape insta
 bilities that would arise in analogue passive systems. 
LOCATION:Online
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