This talk forms part of our monthly Café Scientifique series. With Dr Tom Allen, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Join us for a fascinating talk that explores the world of sports engineering, where innovation meets performance Dr Allen’s talk will begin with an overview of the field of sports engineering, highlighting current developments in inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation in sporting equipment. It will touch on a range of sports including rugby, snowboarding, running, football, and tennis.
The talk will introduce the concept of metamaterials and their potential applications in sport. It will cover materials with unusual mechanical properties, such as auxetic structures (with a negative Poisson’s ratio), materials with negative stiffness, and those that are adaptive. The session will conclude by exploring possible future opportunities for metamaterials in the design and development of sporting goods.
Dr Tom Allen is a Reader in Mechanical Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University. He specialises in Sports Engineering, particularly sports safety. Tom is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He holds various external positions, including Editor-in-Chief of the journal of the International Sports Engineering Association, Chair of the IMechE Sports Engineering group, Vice-President of the International Society for Snowsports Safety and Deputy-Chair of the British Standards Institution committee Protective Equipment for Sports Players. Tom advocates inclusivity in sport and recently co-authored an IMechE policy report on sports engineering, outlining recommendations for the development of inclusive and sustainable sports technology. His media appearances span TV, radio, online and print, including the BBC, Sky News, the Guardian, and the Telegraph.
In partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Entry £2.50 on the door, including hot drink.
