The first IMNS seminar of the new academic year will hear a talk from a special guest speaker. On behalf of the organising committee, I would like to invite you all to join us at the Scottish Microelectronics Centre for pizza followed by the presentation, details of which are given below:

Hearing in Nature - models for creating new acoustic systems

Dr James Windmill, University of Strathclyde

Wednesday, 23rd September 2015. Pizza at 12:45 noon, Talk starts at 13:00 pm

Abstract

In engineering sound can be used for a range of useful tasks, across a range of frequencies much greater than that within human hearing.

In nature many animal species have evolved hearing systems sensitive to sounds far outside our own capability. This includes a large variety of insects that have evolved to use sound for tasks such as communication and predator avoidance.

The mechanisms used by other animals such as insects can therefore provide a wealth of concepts and ideas for engineers to consider in seeking inspiration to solve acoustic problems.

This talk will look at recent research investigating insect hearing systems and discuss some examples of the unexpected characteristics found in insect auditory systems.

It will also discuss ongoing work in the development of acoustic systems inspired by and modelled on animal hearing.

Biography

Dr James Windmill has a BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering and a PhD in Electronic Engineering (Magnetic Microscopy). After his PhD, Dr Windmill joined the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, where his postdoctoral work concentrated on the nanoscale mechanics of insect auditory systems.

In 2008, Dr Windmill joined the University of Strathclyde as a lecturer. Now a Reader, he combines his experience in insect hearing with the conception and development of new transducer and sensor systems.

Further Information

• Dr James Windmill, University of Strathclyde