Cymatics Lab

Student Spotlight

I am a biology student at Foothill College and doing research at Stanford University, with a deep interest in understanding how things work from biological systems to the physical world around us. At ETI, I have explored that curiosity in a very different medium: sound. As part of the Cymatics Club, I helped build devices that turn invisible vibrations into visible patterns. ETI has given me the opportunity to learn by building, experimenting, and collaborating across disciplines—an approach I hope to bring into her future work in biology and neuroscience.

Elena Stankevich

I joined ETI’s Cymatics Club to explore the connection between music, sound, and architecture. As a pianist and composer who has performed at Carnegie Hall, I dream of becoming an architect and designing spaces that bring musicians and audiences together. Through ETI’s Cymatics Club, I helped design and build devices that make sound visible. The experience has given me a place to explore the real-world physics of acoustics, connecting my experience as a musician with my aspirations as an architect.

Yesenia Stankevich

What is Cymatics?

Cymatics is the study of how sound and vibration create visible patterns in physical materials. By transmitting sound waves through substances such as sand, water, or specialized membranes, cymatics reveals the intricate geometric structures that emerge as different frequencies interact with matter. These dynamic patterns provide a tangible way to explore fundamental concepts in physics, acoustics, engineering, and mathematics, transforming invisible waves into observable phenomena. Beyond its scientific value, cymatics bridges the gap between science, technology, and art, inspiring new approaches to visualization, design, materials research, education, and creative expression. As advances in sensing, imaging, and digital technologies continue to evolve, cymatics offers new opportunities to investigate the relationship between energy, frequency, and the physical world.

Possible future careers utilizing this technology

Lab Location

Room 4204

Projects in the Cymatics Lab

Information Coming Soon

A student adjusts an experimental device beneath an overhead camera in a classroom.

What You Can Do in the Lab

Explore cymatics through hands-on experimentation with specialized equipment, visualization tools, and interactive demonstrations.
Investigate how sound, vibration, and frequency influence physical materials while observing complex wave patterns in real time.
Support coursework, research projects, and interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate cymatics with science, engineering, technology, art, and design.