The Disrupt Dispatch - #26
Richard James MacCowan
Nature-Inspired Innovation Leader ?? Globally Recognised for Bridging Biology & Engineering ?? Sustainable Solutions in Manufacturing, AgriFood & Built Environment ?? As Featured in Wired and on the BBC.
Hey there,
It’s been a while. For regular readers, the last publication was in August 2024.
I’ve been busy managing my time as I’m still recovering from my major leg break in June 2024. Everything is a bit slower at present!
We’ve been busy working in the mobility sector, architecture, research, venture scouting, and agritech.
Welcome, new subscribers. I share some insights and a mix of interesting research, case studies, books, videos, and podcasts that you might enjoy.
Do you have any topics of interest that you would like to see?
Thank you for reading,
Richard
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#01 Industry - National Materials Innovation Strategy
The National Materials Innovation Strategy outlines a comprehensive consultation, structure and plan to drive UK economic growth through advanced materials innovation. Facilitated by Royce, this strategy seeks to leverage the UK’s world-class expertise in materials science to address critical challenges such as sustainability, energy efficiency, and healthcare.
#02 Research - Growth of publications in 2024.
For the past few years, I’ve been analysing publications across nature-inspired innovation (+ synonyms - biomimicry, biomimetics, bionic, bio-inspired, and bio/natural intelligence) on Semantic Scholar. In 2024, there were 11,619 publications, an increase of 10.31% from 2023. Engineering publications grew by 13.95%, Materials Science by 13.81%, and Environmental Science by 25.71%. In the following newsletter, we will share more insights into these publications.
#03 Research Lab - Bio-Inspired Innovation Lab: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
The Bio-Inspired Innovation Lab at KAIST leads systems biology and bio-inspired engineering research. Under Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho, the lab decodes biological complexity to reveal life's logic for engineering innovations. Their work includes cancer cell reprogramming and creating self-repairing circuits. The lab uses mathematical modelling, computer simulation, and biological experiments to analyze and control complex biological networks for biomedical applications.
领英推荐
#04 Video - Are Insect Brains the Secret to Great AI? - Frances S. Chance
Are insects the key to brain-inspired computing? Neuroscientist Frances S. Chance thinks so. In this Talk, she shares examples of the incredible capabilities of insects - like the dragonfly's deadly accurate hunting skills and the African dung beetle's super strength - and shows how untangling the mysterious web of neurons in their tiny brains could lead to breakthroughs in computers, AI and more.
#05 Book - Plant Biomechanics: An Engineering Approach to Plant Form and Function by Karl J. Niklas
In this comprehensive treatment of plant biomechanics, Karl J. Niklas analyzes how plant form responds to physical laws. He examines these laws’ constraints on form, size, and growth across various plant structures and organisms. He uses fossil records and studies of extant species to offer an evolutionary perspective on plants' responses to abiotic and biotic factors. Understanding that some readers may need an introduction to biomechanics or botany, Niklas includes an extensive glossary and original drawings and photographs to illustrate key structures and concepts.
#06 Case Study - Cyanoskin
Cyanoskin's innovative biomimetic paint harnesses algae's natural carbon-fixing abilities, absorbing up to 50 times more carbon than traditional plants. This self-sufficient coating needs two coats for optimal coverage and includes nutrients that support algal growth. Besides capturing carbon, the paint offers biophilic benefits, aiding stress reduction and mental health.
#00 Events
15-18 July, Sheffield, UK - Living Machines 2025
12th-13th September, Marseille, France - Biomim'expo 2025
?Running an event, expo, or conference. Let us know!?
#0X Roles
Looking for jobs*?
*We moved our curated list of jobs to alternate weeks. You can find updates here.
If you are looking for freelance in the climate and sustainability space, check out the newsletter from our friends at the IMMA Collective.
Thank you for reading,
Founder + CEO Biomimicry Innovation Lab
“There are no big problems, there are just a lot of little problems.” - Henry Ford