Shear thickening fluids like mixtures of cornstarch and water, or oobleck, are not only fun to play with but also have applications ranging from 3D printing to body armor and shock absorption. However, the rapid increase in the viscosity with the shear rate, the very property that makes these suspensions so interesting for industrial applications also leads to jamming and failure of processing equipment. Thus, it is essential to find a method to control and tune the viscosity of these shear thickening suspensions.

Here we discuss the various methods that we are working on to tune the viscosity of these shear thickening suspensions.

Several members of the lab participate in monthly outreach events with the Greater Ithaca Activities Center. K-12 students participate in educational activities spanning various fields from polymers to chromatography to circuits.

Several members of the group are involved with the Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) conference here at Cornell. This is a conference dedicated to introducing science to 7th - 9th grade girls through hands on activities and participation. The conference provides them with women scientist role models and raises awareness of opportunities in science and math based careers.

More information can be found at https://www.eyh.cornell.edu/