Learning from Nature: Seminar Explores the Use of Biology in Engineering

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Ajay Malshe

On Wednesday Oct. 23, Ajay Malshe, Distinguished Professor of mechanical engineering, will speak about his research on the use of biological surfaces to create novel materials and technologies. The seminar will be held at 12:55 p.m. in the Bell Engineering Center, room 2269. Lunch will be provided.

Malshe has been working in the field of bio-inspired engineering for a decade, and he has been invited to give international speeches on this subject. “Nature is the greatest manufacturer,” he explained. In his talk, he will explain examples of bio-inspired engineering such as the use butterfly wings as a model for environmentally-friendly paint, and how sharkskin can help researchers develop bacterial-resistant surfaces in hospitals.

Malshe holds the Twenty-First Century Chair in Materials, Manufacturing and Integrated Systems, and he is the founder, executive vice president and chief technology officer of NanoMech, a nanotechnology company which recently won an R&D 100 award.