Duke professor discusses juxtaposition, inspiration

When can something as small as a toothpick carry the same weight as a newly built tower?

According to Duke University professor Henry Petroski, when it’s influencing future engineering projects.

Petroski will discuss “Towers and Toothpicks: Engineering Large and Small” on Monday at UC Irvine as part of the engineering dean’s distinguished lecturer series.

He will present how seemingly unrelated engineering designs and productions, from consumer products such as toothpicks to record-setting towers, can influence form and functions of new engineering enterprises.

Petroski is an engineering and history professor at Duke University and has written many pieces for magazines and newspapers such as the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.

Petroski will speak from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Calit2 auditorium at UCI. The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

To RSVP, e-mail engineerRSVP@uci.edu or call (949) 824-3923.

— Joseph Serna