BioInspired! So What? Now What!

In this lecture, Dr Petra Gruber from the Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center (BRIC) at the University of Akron, USA, will take a closer look at a biological paradigm underlying current research and development interests in architectural design: Biomimetics – a strategic approach to translate information from biology to technology. In this lecture, Dr Gruber will present several examples that illustrate how concepts of life can be translated to innovative design proposals, prototypes, methods and tools.

For example, birds nests made of more or less randomly assembled elements without connections, still deliver interesting mechanical properties. Research on these ‘animal buildings’ has provided prototypical building solutions, laying the groundwork for future product-oriented technological solutions.

Investigations of patterns in biological growth from slime molds and algae, have aided the design of materials and structures such as bioreactors and 3D printing improvements; and the correlation of leaf shape with evapotranspiration and thermal dynamics can be used to improve technical energy dissipation systems.