Event Report: Biological material, or sustainable metamaterial?

 Workshop Report

The Biological Material, or Sustainable Metamaterial? workshop brought together a diverse community of researchers to explore the intersection between biological, biogenic, and sustainable metamaterials. The event aimed to bridge parallel research efforts across these fields, encouraging shared understanding and identifying opportunities to translate insights between disciplines.

Event Overview

Structured around five focused discussion sessions, the workshop was designed to foster open dialogue and collaborative thinking. Each session was led by a panel comprising two external invited speakers and a Chair from the University of Bath, ensuring a balance of perspectives and expertise.

The event attracted strong engagement from the academic community, with 53 registered participants and peak attendance reaching approximately 48 attendees during sessions two and three. Attendance remained consistently high throughout the day, never dropping below 30 participants. While the majority of attendees were academics, the presence of an industry representative from QinetiQ provided a valuable applied perspective.

Invited Speakers

The workshop featured an impressive line-up of interdisciplinary speakers from across the UK, including:

• Pedro Estrela – University of Bath
• Sepideh Khodaparast – University of Leeds, School of Mechanical Engineering
• Bethan Charles – University of Bristol
• Soraya Caixeiro – Prize Fellow, University of Bath
• Anton Souslov – Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
• Chris Holland – University of Sheffield
• Joni Wildman – University of Bath
• Parvez Alam – University of Edinburgh
• Nicola Nadeau – University of Sheffield
• Hamideh Khanbareh – University of Bath
• Humberto Herrera-Ubaldo – University of Cambridge
• Ulrike Bauer – University of Exeter
• Jenny Baker – University of Bath
• Martyn Dade-Robertson – Northumbria University
• Katie Shanks – University of Exeter

This breadth of expertise enabled rich, cross-disciplinary discussions spanning biosciences, engineering, architecture, and materials science.

Key Themes and Discussions

Throughout the day, participants explored how different communities approach similar challenges in the development and application of biological and sustainable materials. A central focus was identifying common ground between disciplines that often operate independently despite addressing overlapping scientific and technological questions.

Discussions highlighted:

• The conceptual overlap between biological materials and engineered metamaterials
• Opportunities for translating biological design principles into sustainable material systems
• The importance of shared language and frameworks to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration
• Emerging challenges in scaling, characterisation, and application of natural materials

The workshop format encouraged active participation, resulting in significant idea generation and collaborative exploration both during and in advance of the event.

Outcomes and Next Steps

A key outcome of the workshop is the ongoing development of a collaborative perspective article, which will synthesise the ideas and discussions generated. Contributions have already been collected and collated, and the group is progressing towards submission for publication.

Looking ahead, several important opportunities have been identified:

• Extended engagement at future events, including inviting speakers to present more in-depth talks at the annual conference
• Development of a dedicated research network focused on natural materials, building on the connections established during the workshop
• Collaboration with existing initiatives, including the IM3 Natural Materials group and the HappyMat network

Conclusion

The Biological Material, or Sustainable Metamaterial? workshop successfully created a collaborative environment for interdisciplinary exchange, highlighting both the shared challenges and the significant opportunities at the interface of these research areas. By fostering new connections and laying the groundwork for future collaboration, the event represents an important step towards integrating biological insight into the design of next-generation sustainable materials.