Fluid mechanics for paleontologists
A hands-on introduction to using fluid-physics principles to analyse fossils and scientifically reconstruct how extinct animals moved, flew, and swam.
Talk: Yes | Workshop: Yes | Course: No | Audience: High School, Sixthform, College, Undergraduate, Graduate, Professional
Fluid Mechanics for Paleontologists is an engaging talk/workshop that reveals how the physics of fluids can bring extinct creatures back to life—at least scientifically. Fossils tell us what ancient animals looked like, but fluid mechanics helps us understand how they *worked*: how they moved, how fast they travelled, whether they could fly or swim, and how efficiently they used energy. By combining engineering principles with paleontology, this session shows how scientists test ideas about prehistoric life using the same physics that governs modern aircraft, marine animals, and weather systems.
The workshop introduces the most useful fluid-mechanics tools for paleontological research in a clear, logical progression. It begins with scaling and similarity arguments, explaining how scientists compare animals of different sizes and predict performance from fossil measurements. It then moves into drag calculations to estimate resistance in air or water, before exploring the mechanics of flight—both flapping and soaring—to assess aerial capability in extinct species. Finally, it examines swimming mechanics, showing how body shape, tail motion, and fluid forces determine propulsion and stability in ancient aquatic animals.
Designed to be practical as well as thought-provoking, Fluid Mechanics for Paleontologists focuses on concepts participants can actually use to analyse fossils and research questions. Real examples, intuitive explanations, and cross-disciplinary insights make complex ideas accessible without heavy mathematics. Attendees receive course notes to support further study, leaving with both a deeper understanding of fluid physics and a powerful new lens for interpreting life from the distant past.
The workshop introduces the most useful fluid-mechanics tools for paleontological research in a clear, logical progression. It begins with scaling and similarity arguments, explaining how scientists compare animals of different sizes and predict performance from fossil measurements. It then moves into drag calculations to estimate resistance in air or water, before exploring the mechanics of flight—both flapping and soaring—to assess aerial capability in extinct species. Finally, it examines swimming mechanics, showing how body shape, tail motion, and fluid forces determine propulsion and stability in ancient aquatic animals.
Designed to be practical as well as thought-provoking, Fluid Mechanics for Paleontologists focuses on concepts participants can actually use to analyse fossils and research questions. Real examples, intuitive explanations, and cross-disciplinary insights make complex ideas accessible without heavy mathematics. Attendees receive course notes to support further study, leaving with both a deeper understanding of fluid physics and a powerful new lens for interpreting life from the distant past.
