On Tuesday, June 23, at 1 p.m., the Rockport Public Library will host a presentation by renowned MIT Engineering Professor Lorna Gibson. She will introduce her new book, Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders.

 

Gibson, a lifelong birder, combines her expertise in materials science with ornithology to offer a unique perspective on how birds function, from the physics of flight to the evolution of their unique features. The book covers topics like feather structure, bone density, flight dynamics, and specialized bills, with over 150 illustrations. Books will be available for purchase following the talk. 

 

In addition to being the Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow at MIT, Gibson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Audubon Society.