LECTURE: Geckos running up vertical surfaces at high speeds and mantis shrimp accelerating appendages at 10,000g are great examples of natural engineering capabilities. Alfred Crosby, professor in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts Amherst, will discuss how his research group focuses on understanding the physics, chemistry, and engineering that make such performances possible and using them to develop beneficial materials. Crosby will highlight the Geckskin® technology, a super-adhesive that was invented in their laboratory, as well as other recent examples.