education

I’m delighted that mechanicians now have this platform to discuss our work as well as share ideas and perspectives. While we advance knowledge in our field and come up with innovative solutions for engineering and materials problems, I believe that we also have a responsibility to speak on issues of global significance, especially where the power of science and technology can be harnessed to address challenges and issues impacting the world.

Recently I received a message from the Cambridge University Press regarding a coming text on biomechanics entitled Introductory Biomechanics, From Cells to Organisms. by C. Ross Ethier and Craig A. Simmonds. I ordered an exam copy, went through, and found it very interesting. It covers cellular biomechanics, hemodynamics, circulatory system, ocular biomechanics, muscles and movement, and skeletal biomechanics. Each section has a significant number of problems. I examined closely the part on cellular biomechanics which is one of the main areas of my research and teaching interests, and enjoyed reading it. The cellular mechanics is presented in its interrelation to cell structure and biology (there are nice images of cells and their components to use for teaching). The main techniques of probing the cell, such as micropipette aspiration, AFM, optical tweezers, and magnetic cytometry, are considered. Models of the cytoskeleton (tensergity, foams) are also introduced. The math is limited to linear equations, one-dimensional or axisymmetric problems, but it seems appropriate for the introductory level. In addition, some results of computational (finite element) modeling are also included. I certainly expect that this textbook will be quite useful in my teaching. The web site http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521841122 has more details on the book.

I was reading professor Zhigang Suo's post titled "What's Wrong with Applied Mechanics", thinking about the large amount of knowledge available. There are so many applications of mechanics that they seem endless in any subfield that one can think of. It made me recall some homework problems that wanted to include real life applications. However, real life applications tend to turn out much more complicated than what can be covered in one homework problem.

Resonance is a journal of science education published by the Indian Academy of Sciences for the past twenty years or so. As the introduction page states,