Title: Geomimicry: Emergent Mechanics in Earth-Mediated Complex Materials

Author (Talk): Shravan Pradeep, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract:

Earth-mediated materials, such as soil and sediments, are a class of soft matter that dynamically evolve under prolonged environmental pressures, developing distinctive mechanical and transport properties. How does nature engineer soil with specific functions? To answer this, I introduce the 'geomimicry' framework: a new paradigm for material design that draws inspiration from the adaptive, emergent dynamics of Earth-mediated matter to engineer sustainable, climate-resilient materials. By decoding the multiscale interactions of these heterogeneous systems, we can transition from designing static materials to creating dynamic, evolving systems. My research addresses this by recasting soil as a hierarchical class of soft matter, revealing how microscopic rules give rise to mesoscale structures and macroscopic mechanics. Ultimately, geomimicry offers a pathway to program advanced functionalities into next-generation circular materials, unlocking breakthroughs ranging from smart agriculture to planetary terraforming.