Nature- Inspired Engineering (NIE) is the application of fundamental scientific mechanisms, underpinning desirable properties observed in nature (e.g., resilience, scalability, efficiency), to inform the design of advanced technological solutions. As illustrated by the many applications, from energy technology, catalysis and reactor engineering, to functional materials for the built environment, electronic or optical devices, biomedical and healthcare engineering, NIE has the opportunity to inform transformative solutions to tackle some of our most pressing challenges, as well as to be a pathway to innovation. The webcast recording is now available. Click here to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPyTb_-qhgo Find out more about the Nature Inspired Solutions special interest group at https://ktn-uk.co.uk/interests/nature-inspired-solutions Join the Nature Inspired Solutions LinkedIn group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13701855/

1. Vermelding onderdeel organisatie
Nature-Inspired Solutions for Engineering
A Transformative Methodology for Innovation
Marc-Olivier Coppens
!
EPSRC “Frontier Engineering” Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
University College London
http://www.cnie.org.uk
KTN, Nature-Inspired Solutions SIG
London, 9 July 2019

2. 2
Grand Challenges: the problems are clear …
But how do we address them?
• Out-of-the-box (re-)thinking
• Collaborative in implementation (Grand Challenges)
• Competitive edge: doing things differently, and
understanding the context to be effective
• Cultivate responsible innovation and risk taking
Launched in 2016, the UCL Grand Challenge of Transformative
Technology looks at how innovation and technology can have far-
reaching benefits for society and the planet.

3. 3
Can we innovate by drawing
lessons from nature?
What is fundamentally new?
Chemical Process Industry,
a “modern” plant today
A. Stankiewicz, 2007, “Process Intensification”, oratio TU Delft
G. Agricola, De Re Metallica, 1556

4. 4
The Architecture and Dynamics of Nature
… and associated, desirable properties
Scalable architecture: molecules - cells - organ - organism/system
Optimized transport
across length scales,
with process intensification
Far from equilibrium
processes; collective
dynamics are key
Emergence of robustness,
adaptability and resilience
Jeong et al., Nature 407, 651
(2000)
Eshel Ben-Jacob
Biofabrication 1 (2009) 035002
DNA
Lieberman-Aiden et al., Science
326, 289 (2009)

5. 5
Learn from
the architecture & dynamics of natural systems at all scales,
to design and synthesize
innovative and superior solutions
to technological challenges
related to:
resource efficiency (energy, water, materials), therapeutics,
scalable manufacturing, design of novel functional materials,
living environments, and systems
NICE: Nature-Inspired Chemical Engineering
Basis: Mechanistic understanding, not imitation out of context
!

6. 6
A tree as a chemical reactor
Nano-scale
PhotosynthesisMeso-scale
Macro-scale
Hierarchical structure
Reactor Catalyst particle with
pore network
Active sites

7. 7
Singapore
Marina Bay Park

8. 8
Bio-similarity

9. 9
“Organic architecture”
Wikimedia
Gaudí: Sagrada Familia
(Barcelona)

10. 10
Gaudí: “The architect of the future will build imitating Nature, for it is the
most rational, long-lasting and economical of methods”

11. 11
RS Lakes, Nature 361, 511
(1993)
Bone
TendonHierarchical structures
abound in biology
Mechanical strength, efficient use of
materials, flexibility, easy transport of
molecules and energy, scalability, …
J Kestelic, A. Galeski and E. Baer,
Connective Tissue Research 6, 11 (1976)

12. 12
Eiffel Tower
(Gustave Eiffel, 1889, inspired by von
Meyer’s work on femur/trabeculae,
and Cullman’s models – truss system
using minimum iron)
http://www.gla.ac.uk/ibls/US/fab/tutorial/generic/bone2.html
“Ingenious” Engineering:
Mechanical force balancing with little material

13. 13
Learn from
the architecture & dynamics of natural systems at all scales,
to design and synthesize
innovative and superior solutions
to technological challenges
Nature-Inspired Engineering
!
But How?
Need for a Methodology
NISE – Nature-Inspired Solutions for Engineering

14. 14
Two ways to observe nature, and inspire
scientific investigation
- Remarkable for its uniqueness:
Exceptional. Rare. Concrete.
Often the territory of biology.
Platypus
- Remarkable as universal feature:
Common. Ubiquitous. Abstract.
Often the territory of physics.
Altocumulus clouds
Dunes Beach
Tardigrade
Regular patterns

15. 15
- Remarkable as universal feature:
[Common. Ubiquitous. Abstract]
Often the territory of physics.
Vascular network of the human liver
(image: University of Sydney)
Upper airway trees and
vasculature in human
lungs
Tree crown
The Fractal Geometry of Nature
(Benoit Mandelbrot, 1982)
Internal symmetry: self-similarity

16. 16
• Practical – to solve (challenging) engineering problems
• Enabling – a pathway to innovation
• Thematic – identifies universal principles
• Mechanistic – leverages underpinning mechanisms:
principle -> application
• Systematic – not ad hoc
• Contextual – adapts to differences between natural
environment and technical application
• Robust – able to incorporate new insights and techniques
• Versatile – extendable to new problems
Nature
(source)
Nature-
inspired
concept
Nature-
inspired
design
Experimental
realisation
(prototype)
Application
(context)
Development of a Methodology: NISE –
Nature Inspired Solutions for Engineering

17. 17
Four fundamental mechanisms
…to provide guidance to engineering applications
1. Hierarchical transport networks
MO Coppens, Curr Opin Chem Eng
(2012) 1, 281-289
2. Force balancing
3. Dynamic self-organisation
4. Ecosystems, Networks and Modularity

18. 18
Christensen and Nørskov, J. Chem. Phys. 128 (2008) 182503
nmμmmmm
Reactants à (reaction network) à Product distribution
Challenges in Catalysis & Reactor Engineering
… transport issues & maldistribution

19. 19
A tree as a chemical reactor
Nano-scale
PhotosynthesisMeso-scale
Macro-scale
Hierarchical structure
Reactor Catalyst pore network Active sites
Photosynthesis

20. 20
dense phase or
emulsion phase
gas ‘bubble’
particle
interstitial
gas
gas
Fluidized beds – a complex dynamic system
- Complex hydrodynamics
- Poor fluid-solid contact
- Scalability
- Channelling / non-uniformityBubbling fluidized bed
Challenges
Great progress in characterization and modeling
… but design still highly empirical
Applications
- Chemical production
- Energy: fuel combustion
- Drying, coating, …

21. 21
Preserve
smallest size
(outlet, “cell” / “twig”)
In small vessel
IN LARGE VESSEL
Nature-inspired bridging of length scales
(a) Fractal injector inside bubbling
reactor (gas/solid, gas/liquid);
(b) Prototype for use in reactors,
water purification,…
MO Coppens, U.S. Patent 6,333,019 (2001)
Fractal injector
for multiphase reactors
MO Coppens, 2005, Ind. & Engng Chem. Res. 44, 5011-5019

22. 22
Nature-Inspired Structuring of Fluidized
Beds using Fractal Injector

23. 23
A tree as a chemical reactor
Nano-scale
PhotosynthesisMeso-scale
Macro-scale
Hierarchical structure
Reactor Catalyst pore network Active sites
Photosynthesis

24. 24
Hierarchically structured porous catalysts
Nanopores: contain active sites;
determines intrinsic properties
Distribution channels: access
to active sites; determines
effective properties
Objective: reduce diffusion limitations & deactivation
(mitigate effects of pore blocking)
Zeolite Composite
Wang, Coppens et al., 2009,
Microp. Mesop. Mater. 120, 19

25. 25
Nanoporous catalyst grain
ε ~ d /(d +w)
w
Hierarchically structured catalyst pellet to
optimally utilize intrinsic, nanoscale activity
(1) Optimal size, w, of nanoporous particles is such that
local effectiveness factor ~ 1
(2) There is an optimal porosity, ε
(3) Distribution around optimum less important
E Johannessen, G Wang, MO Coppens, 2007, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 46, 4245
Hierarchical catalyst pellet
Design principles:
Pores with diameter, d,
in between grains

26. 26
Tree and leaf architecture
Poplar leaf skeleton
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/uploads/cano
n/1161865633391poplar-leaf_saileshpatel_05.jpg
Gunnera
http://www.mjausson.com/2003/img/walk24Jun03/14gunnera_dt.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Gunnera.manic
ata.arp.750pix.jpg
Transition from fractal è uniform
~ flow è diffusion

27. 27
PEM Fuel Cells: Continuous transformation of
Chemical Energy (here, from H2) in Electrical Energy
- Expensive catalyst
- Mass transfer limitations
- Stability issues
- Water management
Challenges

28. 28
The lung as a source of inspiration
Flow, gas
distribution/
collection
acini
Diffusion
&
gas exchange/
reaction
http://www.utmem.edu/mlrp/IMAGES/illustrated-lung.gif
S Kjelstrup, MO Coppens, JG Pharoah, P Pfeifer, Energy & Fuels 24, 5097-5108 (2010)

29. 29
Lung-inspired fuel cells – concept
S Kjelstrup, MO Coppens, JG Pharoah, P Pfeifer, Energy & Fuels 24, 5097-5108 (2010)
MO Coppens & J Marquis, US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/896,151, 28 October 2013

30. 30
NICE Design: Fractal Flow Distributor for PEFCs
30
COMSOL Simulation of PEFC
Effect of number of fractal generations
on Peclet number (Pe)
Lung-inspired fractal structure used for gas distribution network in PEFC
P. Trogadas, J.I.S. Cho, T.P. Neville, J. Marquis, B. Wu, D.J.L. Brett and M.-O. Coppens, A lung-
inspired approach to scalable and robust fuel cell design. Energy & Env. Sci. 11 (2018) 136-143.
Fractal Inlet
Outlets

31. 32
Cathode Gas = O2
SAnode = 2.0, SCathode = 2.0
Tcell = 65°C
VA = 0.40 V
MO Coppens & J Marquis, US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/896,151, 28 October 2013
Fuel cell modeling: J. Marquis, M.-O. Coppens, Chem. Eng.
Sci. 102, 151-162 (2013)
Additive manufacturing
Pe ~ 1 !
P. Trogadas, J.I.S. Cho, T.P. Neville, J. Marquis, B. Wu, D.J.L. Brett and M.-O. Coppens, Energy & Env. Sci. 11 (2018) 136-143.

32. 33
P. Trogadas, J.I.S. Cho, T.P.
Neville, J. Marquis, B. Wu,
D.J.L. Brett and M.-O. Coppens,
Energy & Env. Sci. 11 (2018)
136-143. Hot Paper 2017
Energy&
Environmental
Science
rsc.li/ees
ISSN 1754-5706
PAPER
M.-O. Coppens et al.
A lung-inspired approach to scalable and robust fuel cell design
Volume 11 Number 1 January 2018 Pages 1–224

33. 34
Lung-Inspired Fuel Cells
• P. Trogadas, V. Ramani, P. Strasser, T.F. Fuller, M.O. Coppens, Hierarchically structured nanomaterials
for electrochemical energy conversion. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 55 (2016) 122-148.
• P. Trogadas, M.M. Nigra, M.O. Coppens, Nature-inspired optimization of hierarchical porous media for
catalytic and separation processes. New Journal of Chemistry 40 (2016) 4016-4026.
• P. Trogadas, J.I.S. Cho, T.P. Neville, J. Marquis, B. Wu, D.J.L. Brett and M.-O.Coppens, A lung-inspired
approach to scalable and robust fuel cell design. Energy & Env. Sci. 11 (2018) 136-143.
Panos Trogadas Jason ChoToby Neville

34. 35
Neutron radiography of working fuel cell:
shows liquid water slugs causing fluctuations in output
J.I.S. Cho, T.P. Neville, P. Trogadas, P. Shearing, Q. Meyer, Y. Wu, R. Ziesche, P. Boillat, M.
Cochet, V. Manzi-Orezzoli, P. Shearing, D.J.L. Brett, M.O. Coppens, Visualization of liquid water
in a lung-inspired flow field based PEM fuel cell via neutron radiography. Energy (2019).
Done at neutron imaging facility
NEUTRA (PSI Switzerland)

35. 36
Thorny Devils
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUsARF-CBcI&t=268s

36. 37
Passive water transport
• Passive – requires no
external energy to
direct liquid water
• Phenomenon based on
geometric principles
• Periodic pattern of
capillary channels that
narrow and widen
• Capillary action aided
by hydrophilicity of the
scales
P. Comanns et al., J. R. Soc. Interface 12 (2015)

37. 38
Passive liquid water removal
Computer generated image of patterned flow field
Pattern via mechanical milling (CNC)

38. 40
Four fundamental mechanisms
…to provide guidance to engineering applications
1. Hierarchical transport networks
MO Coppens, Curr Opin Chem Eng
(2012) 1, 281-289
2. Force balancing
3. Dynamic self-organisation
4. Ecosystems, Networks and Modularity

39. 41
Malica Schmidt
Nature-Inspired Coatings

40. 42
Nature-Inspired Design of Catalysts with
Optimized Nano-confinement
Force balancing: both electrostatic interactions and
steric confinement matter
Justin Siefker Michele LynchLung-Ching
Sang
Kasia
Maksimiak

41. 43
“Force balancing” mechanism:
Nature-inspired membranes
Silo Meoto
S. Meoto and M.-O. Coppens, J. Mater. Chem. A 2, 5640-5654 (2014).
S. Meoto, N. Kent, M. Nigra and M.-O. Coppens, Langmuir 33(19), 4823-4832 (2017).

42. 44
Learning from water filtration and protein separation in
the kidneys
Each day, the human kidneys filter 140-
180 L of primary urine from plasma,
using a very small DP.
Each day, ~10 kg/m2 of protein are
removed by the glomerular filter (only
<1g proteins cross)
No clogging under physiological
conditions.
Can we used these principles
for the design of robust,
scalable water purification
and bio-separation systems?
Jerome Meng Halan Mohammed

43. 45
Four fundamental mechanisms
…to provide guidance to engineering applications
1. Hierarchical transport networks
MO Coppens, Curr Opin Chem Eng
(2012) 1, 281-289
2. Force balancing
3. Dynamic self-organisation
4. Ecosystems, Networks and Modularity

44. 46
Pattern formation in nonlinear systems
due to continuous perturbation
Altocumulus clouds
Dunes Beach
Green tea

45. 47
Dynamic forcing as a means to structure
the system dynamics
Patterns in granular media, formed
by continued perturbation on a
nonlinear system, as a result of
energy dissipation
MC Cross & PC Hohenberg, Rev. Mod. Phys.
65, 851-1112 (1993)
PB Umbanhowar, F Melo, HL Swinney, Nature
382, 793 (1996): vibrated granular layer

46. 48
B
A
Pulsed flow:
Oscillating gas flow
t
Constant gas flow:
gas inlet
𝑼 𝐨/𝑼𝒎𝒇 = 𝑨 + 𝑩 * [𝟏 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝟐𝝅 * 𝒇 * 𝒕)]𝑼 𝐨/𝑼𝒎𝒇 = 𝑨 + 𝑩
Ripples in the sand
MO Coppens, MA Regelink, CM van den Bleek, World Conf Part Tech (2002)
MO Coppens & JR van Ommen, Chem. Engng J. 96(1-3), 117-124 (2003)
(constant flow)
(oscillating flow)

47. 49
Quasi-2D fluidised bed 3D, cylindrical fluidised bed
D = 140 mm
H = 800 mm
W = 450 mm
H = 800 mm
T = 15 mm
Bronze distributor plate
Fusilli

48. 50

49. 51
M.-O. Coppens. Nature-Inspired Chemical Engineering – A Pathway to Innovation in
Particle Technology. PTF Newsletter (Summer 2018)
Nature-Inspired Structuring of Fluidised
Beds using Dynamic Self-Organisation
K Wu, L de Martín and MO Coppens, 2017, Chem. Eng. J. 329, 4-14
Kaiqiao Wu Dr Victor FranciaDr Lilian de Martín
K Wu, V Francia and MO Coppens, 2019, Powder Tech (available online)

50. 52
Dynamic self-organization of living
organisms
Bacterial communities
(Eshel Ben-Jacob)
Flamingos
(Yann Arthus-Bertrand)
Thousands of fish forming a ball
during the reproduction courtship
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2012/entries/188944/view/

51. 53
Bacteria-inspired, agent-based systems
Bacterial community
Simple agents diffuse, send/receive signals,
eat, divide changes agents’ energy and
chemical levels
Complex emergent collective behaviour
Adaptive materials & systems
Y Huang, I Krumanocker and MO Coppens, Fractals 20(2), 179-195 (2012).
Special Issue i.m. Benoit Mandelbrot
E. Ben-Jacob et al.
0th order kinetics ~1st order kineticsMichaelis-Menten kinetics

52. 54
Four fundamental mechanisms
…to provide guidance to engineering applications
1. Hierarchical transport networks
2. Force balancing
3. Dynamic self-organisation
4. Ecosystems, Networks and Modularity
2019: Frontier
Engineering
Progression Award
2013: Frontier
Engineering Award

53. 55
Svalbard reindeer
Extremely high E and m efficiency:
heat and water balance (Arctic);
trigger-induced brain cooling!
Reindeer-Inspired Solutions for
Engineering…?

54. 56
NISE as general methodology for
innovation and design
• Practical – to solve (challenging) engineering problems
• Enabling – a pathway to innovation
• Thematic – identifies universal principles
• Mechanistic – leverages underpinning mechanisms:
principle -> application
• Systematic – not ad hoc
• Contextual – adapts to differences between natural
environment and technical application
• Robust – able to incorporate new insights and techniques
• Versatile – extendable to new problems
Nature
(source)
Nature-
inspired
concept
Nature-
inspired
design
Experimental
realization
(prototype)
Application
(context)

55. 57
NISE Methodology !
Flagship Projects
Validation & Application
Bio-inspired fuel cells
(energy, catalysis, process
intensification)
Bio-inspired nano-confinement
(bio- and heterogeneous catalysis,
water and bio-separations,
therapeutics)
Nature-inspired structuring of dynamics
(fluidized beds, self-healing and
adaptive materials)

56. 58
Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering
Addressing Challenges in Sustainability and Scalable Manufacturing
~ Objectives ~
• Establish world-leading UCL Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering,
“open” and welcoming international participation
• Concentrate interdisciplinary effort, expertise, state-of-the-art facilities;
generate world-class research addressing challenges related to resource
efficiency (energy, water, materials), environment and manufacturing
• Validate nature-inspired engineering methodology as a platform, to a
level that allows for further development in more applied, industrial context
• Engage and foster use of of Nature Inspired Engineering methodology;
expand into new areas via collaborators
• Provide pathway for translating research findings into practice, in
particular through engagement with industry and entrepreneurship
!

57. 59
Marc-Olivier Coppens (ChE)
Director, Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering
Asterios Gavriilidis
(ChE)
T1 Leader
Hierarchical Transport
Networks
Nigel Titchener-
Hooker
(BioChE & Dean)
T2 Leader
Force Balancing
Mark Miodownik
(MechE)
T3 Leader
Dynamic Self-
Organisation
Jane Butler (V-Dean Eng)
Pathways to Impact
Application Area Leads:
Giota Angeli – Scalable Manufacturing and Process Intensification (ChE)
Dan Brett – Energy & Environmental Technology (ChE)
Marcos Cruz – Construction, Built Environment & Design (Bartlett)
Richard Day – Healthcare and Biomedical Engineering (Medicine)
Mark Miodownik – Functional Materials (MechE)
… Just joined: Yang Lan (NICE Lecturer)
Co-Is: Philip Treleaven (Computer Science, Centre for Financial Computing), Oskar Mencer (Maxeler
Technologies – Dataflow computing), Alan Penn and Sean Hanna (Architecture/Bartlett), Daniel
Bracewell and John Ward (BioChE), Paola Lettieri (ChE), C. Richard A. Catlow, Paul McMillan and
Gopinathan Sankar (Chemistry), Andrew Pomiankowski (Genetics, Evolution & Environment)
External Advisory Group: Industrial and academic experts (UK and international)
!
Robin Ramphal (ChE)
Strategic Alliance Manager
Management Structure
Claire Saunders (ChE)
Executive Assistant
Eva Sorensen
(ChE)
T4 Leader
Ecosystems, Networks
& Modularity

58. 60
Plus: Many alumni, MSc, MEng graduates, international
visiting researchers (USA, Korea, China, Netherlands, Italy,
Belgium, etc.)
A Smiling NICE Group
Victor Francia
(HWU)

59. 61
CNIE “Inspiration” Grants
http://cnie.org.uk
• To initiate new collaborative research projects between CNIE, UK-based
academic researchers, and industry.
• To grow the Centre’s engagement and outreach, promote nature-inspired
approaches, and initiate research projects tackling key industrial challenges.
• Align to Centre vision, as well as to one of its three core themes
• at least one investigator from UCL and one or more investigators from another
university in the UK and/or one or more industrial partner
• Duration of 3-6 months (“pump-priming”)
• Postdoctoral researcher’s salary for up to 6 months, as well as T&S
• At the end of the projects, project teams are expected to continue their
collaboration, through for example external applications to national and
European funding bodies

60. 62
CNIE “Inspiration” Grant Awards
PDRA (postdoc) 3-6 months (occasionally 9-12 months), pump-priming, apply NISE
thematic approach to new challenge. Involves UCL and non-UCL partner
Kick-off: Workshop in Summer 2015 20 Awards between October 2015-2019
(T1) Modelling hierarchical transport network of rocks using multiscale modelling and X-ray tomography
(UCL/Surrey) – connects to new €3M EU grant by Prof. Striolo, on shale gas exploration with minimized
environmental footprint, and research by Dr Faux and McDonald at Surrey
(T2) 3D printing underwater: the regenerative marine fishing nets of salps (UCL/British Antarctic Survey) – led
by a new lecturer in Biochemical Engineering, Dr Brenda Parker
(T1/T2) Bioactive aerogels: preclinical development of a novel bone grafting material (UCL/QMU/Straumann) – led
by Dr Niall Kent, CNIE PDRA; already led to support from RAE, EPSRC D2U, MRC and the Osteology
Foundation
(T3) Pulsating flow inspired by blood circulation to improve fluid dynamics in flow (UCL/Strathclyde) – led by
Prof. A. Gavriilidis and involving Prof. C. Price at CMAC
(T3) Robust self-healing fabrics for soft robotic applications (UCL/Harvard Wyss) – led by Prof. M. Miodownik
and involving an entrepreneurial PhD student, plus connection to similar interests at Harvard
(T3) The self-organising built environment: Calibrating relationships across scales
(UCL/Bristol/Edinburgh/Oxford/ SUNY) – led by Prof. S. Marshall at UCL Bartlett School of Architecture
with collaborations in genetics
(T1) Nature-inspired confined jet-mixers or ionic liquid-liquid extraction applications (UCL/QUB) – led by Prof. P.
Angeli, Dr D. Tsaoulidis at UCL Chemical Engineering, with Prof. K.R. Seddon and Dr N.V. Plechkova at
Queen’s University Belfast

61. 63
CNIE “Inspiration” Grant Awards 2017-8
(T3) An applied, engineered oscillation inspired by the natural oscillatory behaviour of HIV (UCL/ University of
Aberdeen) - led by Dr Darren Nesbeth in UCL Biochemical Engineering, with Dr M Carmen Romano, University
of Aberdeen
(T2) Growth of Iron Sulphide through Electrochemical Control: Towards Exploitation of Nature’s Remediator,
Catalyst and Electron Transfer Mediator (UCL/Loughborough University) – led by Dr Katherine Holt (UCL
Department of Chemistry), with Prof Upul Wijayantha (Loughborough University).
(T3) Nature Inspired 4D printing for biomedical applications (UCL Global Disability Hub) – led by Dr Anna
Ploszajski and Prof Mark Miodownik (UCL Institute of Making), with Dr Cathy Holloway (UCL Department of
Computer Science), and Dr Paddy Cullen (UCL Chemical Engineering).
(T2) Nature-inspired synthetic enzyme for the oxygen reduction reaction (UCL/Diamond Light Source) – led by Dr
Ryan Wang (UCL Chemical Engineering), with Prof Dan Brett, in collaboration with Dr Rosa Arrigo (Beamline
Scientist at Diamond Light Source, Uni Reading).
(T1) Bioactive Aerogels: Development of a Remineralizing Toothpaste Material (UCL/The Royal London Hospital) –
led by Dr Silo Meoto and Niall Kent with Prof Marc-Olivier Coppens (UCL Chemical Engineering), in
collaboration with Dr Alessia D’Onofrio (The Royal London Hospital)

62. 64
CNIE “Inspiration” Grant Awards 2018-9
(T2,T3) Novel microfluidic chemotaxis screening platform for high-throughput bacterial viability quantification
(UCL/ Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry) - led by PDRA Dr Anand P. Radhakrishnan,
with Prof Asterios Gavriilidis & Dr Elaine Allan (UCL), and David Wareham (Barts).
(T3) Nature-inspired Self-healing Materials from Plastic Waste – (UCL/Adolphe Merkle Institute/Uni of
Nottingham/BASF) – led by Lixu Yang, alongside Dr Stefan Guldin, UCL, and in collaboration with Dr Stephen
Schrettl (Adolphe Markle, Switzerland), Prof Neil Champness (Nottingham) and Dr Bernd Bruchman (BASF).
(T1,T2) Nature-Inspired Water Management in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell – (UCL/Helmholtz
Center Berlin for Materials and Energy) – led by current CNIE PDRA Dr Jason Cho, with Prof Marc-Olivier
Coppens & Prof Dan Brett at UCL, in collaboration with Dr Nikolay Kardjilov (Helmholtz Center, Berlin)
(T2) Nature inspired ‘cation channels’ for all solid-state battery – (UCL/Imperial College) - led by PDRA Dr
Zhangxiang Hao with Magda Titirici (Imperial College)
(T3) Mussel Inspired Chemistry and bacterially synthesised polymers for Oral Mucosal Adhesion and Drug
Delivery – (UCL/Westminster) led by Dr Nazanin Owji with Prof Jonathan Knowles (UCL) and Prof Ipsita Roy
(Westminster Uni)
(T3) Bubble Self-Organisation in Annular Gas-Solid Fluidised Beds: Transition from 2D to 3D structures –
(UCL/PSRI) led by current CNIE PhD student Kaiqiao Wu, with Dr Victor Francia (Heriot-Watt) and Ray Cocco
(PSRI, Chicago)
(T1,T2) Nature-Inspired Green, Tunable & Scalable Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles – (UCL/Sheffield) led by
PDRA Dr Max Besenhard, with Prof Asterios Gavriilidis and Prof Nguyen Thanh (UCL) and Dr Sarah Staniland
(Sheffield Uni)
(T2,T3) Microswimmer inspired microscale transport in complex fluids – (UCL/Bristol) - led by UCL Biochemical
Engineering PhD student Andreas Passos with Prof Stavroula Balabani (UCL Mechanical Engineering), and
Dr Hermes Gadelha (Bristol Uni)

63. 65
Investment in Labs and Equipment >£10M
Dr Han Wu
Research Lab
Manager
Beppe Battaglia Ivan Parkin
UCL Chemistry
MO Coppens
UCL ChemEng
Video Liquid TEM
+£480k£2.3M +£160k
X-ray micro- and nano-
tomography (EPSRC Centre for
Gridscale Energy Storage)
Small-/Wide-Angle X-ray
Scattering with environmental
cell – custom built
Porosimetry, chemisorption
Linkam Imaging Stage
- UV/Vis, FTIR, DRIFTS ... spectroscopy
- GC (offline and online), MS, TGA, DSC
- Ovens & furnaces
- SEM, AFM
- Reactors, membrane setup, etc.
3D nanoprinter
Dr Barry Reid
Senior Research
Technician
Dr Ralph Hick
Senior Research
Technician

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http://cnie.org.uk
@UCLCNIE
!
GE Healthcare
tonkin liu
Industrial Engagement & Support

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CNIE Outreach & Engagement
- Summer Challenge for high school students: Engineering Solutions from Nature (Prof. Alberto
Striolo, incl. PhD students, postdocs and academics)
- National Women in Engineering day; Royal Soc. Bioinspiration of new technologies
- 4th European Young Engineers Conference (Warsaw, Poland – plenary on NIE)
- UCL Lunch Lecture (Webcast YouTube), UCL Science Centre Lecture (±250 6th Form
students + teachers) on NIE, Pint for Science, It’s All Academic festivals (Dr Ayomi Perera)
- in2Science/TeachFirst, Nuffield, …: disadvantaged high school students
- UG student experiences (UCL, international)
- Mark Miodownik: BBC, IET Engineering Festival,…
Edward Ko,
Columbia Univ.
Annelien Schijve,
TU Eindhoven

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Education: NICE Course -> NISE Course
MO Coppens
UCL ChemEng
(2015-)
Daniel Lepek
Cooper Union, NY
(in 2015)
- 13 (2015) à 65 (2018) students (capped)
- Elective for MEng (4th year ChemEng) and MSc level
- Lectures, lab demos, readings & team project to practice NISE methodology
- Course success leading to student interest in continued (PhD) research employing NISE
- Papers presented at AIChE, ASEE, SEFI
Apply (chemical) engineering principles to achieve higher performance (efficiency, scalability,
robustness, etc.) and come up with innovative approaches to solve challenging problems, by taking
guidance from natural systems that are ideally structured to achieve this high performance.
Key to the NISE approach is that this is done cognizant of the often-different context of biology and
technological applications.

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Nature-Inspired Engineering
A new ECI Conference
Visit the conference web site for complete details:
www.engconf.org/19AB
Areas of Focus
• Scalable Manufacturing & Process
Intensification
• Built Environment: Construction,
Architecture & Urban Design
• Functional Materials
• Biomedical & Healthcare Engineering
• Energy & Environmental Technology
• Robotics and Other Applications
Engineering Conferences International
Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-
for-profit, global engineering conferences program,
originally established in 1962 that provides
opportunities for the exploration of problems and
issues of concern to engineers and scientists from
many disciplines.
Conference Venue
The picturesque Grand Hotel San Michele
(www.sanmichele.it) is situated on the Tyrrhenian Coast,
120 meters above the Mediterranean Sea, with a
fantastic view of Calabria’s southern coast. It offers
visitors one of the prettiest locations Southern Italy has
to offer and is considered by many to be one of
Calabria’s finest hotels. Its beach (120 meters below the
cliffs) is accessible only by a private special elevator.
Conference Summary
This first ECI Conference on Nature-Inspired Engineering will bring together practitioners and researchers from
academia, national laboratories and industry, with interest in nature-inspired solutions for engineering. Nature-
Inspired Engineering (NIE) is the application of fundamental scientific mechanisms, underpinning desirable
properties observed in nature (e.g., resilience, scalability, efficiency), to inform the design of advanced
technological solutions. As illustrated by the many applications, from energy technology, catalysis and reactor
engineering, to functional materials for the built environment, electronic or optical devices, biomedical and
healthcare engineering, NIE has the opportunity to inform transformative solutions to tackle some of our most
pressing challenges, as well as to be a pathway to innovation. Most work employing NIE is inherently cross-
disciplinary, and builds on progress in fundamentals, analytical and computational tools, additive manufacturing
and novel synthesis routes.
The ECI – NIE conference will host a half day Industry/Academic workshop to discuss translation to
practice and how to use NIE to solve problems.
Prof. Wilhelm Barthlott
University of Bonn
Prof. Mark Cutkosky
Stanford University
Prof. Eugene Goldfield
Harvard University
Conference Co-Chairs
Marc-Olivier Coppens, University College London
Bharat Bhushan, Ohio State University
September 8-13, 2019
Grand Hotel San Michele
Cetraro (Calabria), Italy
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Marc-Olivier Coppens
University College London
Prof. Bharat Bhushan
Ohio State University
Prof. Achim Menges
University of Stuttgart
Prof. Yongmei Zheng
Beihang University
Prof. Klaus Lackner
Arizona State University

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Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN)
Nature Inspired Solutions SIG
First workshop to examine opportunities for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure
9th July 2019
Hallam Conference Centre London