Join Ned Patton, author of The String and Glue of the World, an engaging Fireside Chat with Make: magazine’s Dale Dougherty. Patton's book is about the science, engineering, history, and art of making things out of composite materials. With over four decades of industry experience, Patton offers a beginner-friendly exploration of how composite materials work, from the basics to design and analysis. Discover the secrets behind strings (fibers) and glues (matrices), and why understanding the periodic table is crucial. Patton's accessible approach is perfect for citizen scientists and makers alike. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a seasoned expert with more than 40 years of experience in research and technology development, who has been involved with composites for 35+ of those years. Ned currently works at Northrop Grumman Marine Systems as a senior technical professional, and is actively developing composite material parts and structures for use undersea. He lives in Sunnyvale, California. He writes a column at nedpatton.com.