The Gömböc, the Turtle and the Evolution of Shape

In 1995, Russian mathematician V.I. Arnold conjectured that convex, homogeneous solids with just two static balance points (weebles without a bottom weight) may exist. Ten years later the first such object, dubbed “Gömböc”, was built.

Gábor Domokos, will describe his own part in the journey of discovery, the mathematics behind that journey and the curious relationship between the Gömböc and the turtle. He will also discuss Arnold’s second major conjecture: the Gömböc in nature is not the origin, but the ultimate goal of shape evolution.

Please email gomboc@maths.ox.ac.uk to register

Gábor Domokos is a professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.