Tuesday, 2nd of June, 16.00
(16.00 Coffee & Cake in the foyer, 16.30 talk & discussion)
Lecture Hall III
Morphogenesis—the generation of biological form—is a central aspect of tissue development and regeneration. From a physical perspective, many tissues can be described as active fluids exhibiting macroscopic orientational order. Here, activity refers to the local conversion of chemical energy into mechanical work, while orientational order characterizes the alignment of cells. The study of such active materials has provided key insights into morphogenetic processes. Recent work suggests that topological defects in the orientational order of tissues play a crucial role in this context. In this talk, Karsten Kruse from Geneva will introduce the concept of topological defects in active matter and illustrate, through specific examples, how they can organize flows and contribute to morphogenesis.