robert j. lang

Dr. Robert J. Lang is one of the foremost origami artists and theorists in the world. He is known for his complex and elegant designs, most notably of animals. He has long been a student of the mathematics of origami and of using computers to study the theories behind origami. He has made great advances in making real-world applications of origami to engineering problems.

Career

Lang has been interested in folding paper since he was a child. He received a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from the California Institute of Technology. Lang had a long career as a laser physicist and engineer, with a background in NASA. Lang specializes in finding real-world applications for the various theories of origami he has developed. These included designing folding patterns for a German airbag manufacturer. He is working with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. A team at the laboratory is developing a powerful space telescope, with a 100-meter lens in the form of a thin membrane. Lang was hired by the team to develop a way to fit the tremendous lens, known as the Eyeglass, into a small rocket in such a way that the lens can be unfolded in space and will not suffer from any permanent marks or creases. In 2002, Lang moved from being a engineer to being a full-time origami artist and consultant. Lang authored and co-authored over 80 publications on semiconductor lasers, optics, and integrated optoelectronics. He holds 40 patents in these fields. He has written and co-written eight books. Today, he is considered one of the leading masters of origami.