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Mathematics and the Making of the Modern and Future World

Mathematical Materials. We all rely on materials: natural ones like wood and stone - or manufactured ones such as steel, glass and concrete. With modern technology, we can now design and manufacture meta-materials with a wide variety of mechanical, electrical, thermal and other properties. These often have different properties, combined in a complex manner. The resulting behaviour of the material emerges from the way that the properties interact, which can be very different from the sum of the parts. The mathematics needed to design and study such materials is rich and challenging.

Gresham Professor of Geometry, Chris Budd OBE, is based at the University of Bath, where he is Professor of Applied Mathematics and Director of the Centre of Nonlinear Mechanics. He has a long history of engagement in the public understanding of science and mathematics through institutions such as the Royal Institution and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. (from gresham.ac.uk)

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