MechE Colloquium with Mathias Kolle: "Squishy Material Mechanics for Edible Structural Color, Butterfly Scale Secretion, and Whales"

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Location: 3-270
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm ET

Speaker: Mathias Kolle
Affiliation: Associate Professor, MIT Mechanical Engineering

Host: Professor Ming Guo

Talk title: Squishy Material Mechanics for Edible Structural Color, Butterfly Scale Secretion, and Whales

Abstract: The research of my group is focused on materials with dynamic optical and mechanical properties. We develop elastomers and fluids with tunable optical characteristics; we design materials with switchable mechanical behavior for applications in marine conservation; and we ask how nature secretes non-living functional matter. In this presentation, I will first highlight the work of Hannah Feldstein on edible colorful emulsions and elaborate on how she deciphered the interfacial fluid mechanics that kept our emulsions from shining in their full colors. I will then briefly spotlight Josh Brandt’s project on preventing fishing lines from entangling whales. Ultimately, I aim to focus a significant part of this presentation on discussing Yi Yang’s efforts to model the mechanical phenomena that occur when butterflies secrete their brilliant scales.

Bio: The research in Mathias’ group focuses on the translation of biological light manipulation concepts into bio-inspired, adaptive, and actively tunable micro-optical devices. Through experimentation, optical modeling, and unconventional manufacturing approaches, his group is developing novel optical technologies. Mathias joined the faculty of MIT in November 2013. Prior to that, he held a Feodor Lynen research fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt - Foundation for postdoctoral studies at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences of Harvard University, where his research was focused on bio-inspired photonics. He earned degrees in physics from the Saarland University in Germany and the University of Lorraine (formerly Henri Poincaré University) in France in 2006. Mathias was a graduate student at the University of Cambridge, receiving his Ph.D. in 2010.