Enabling Technology - Bio-inspired Engineering and Computing

Biologically inspired

The Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Biological Systems conducts fundamental research into how biological systems interact with their environment. The focus is on modelling and understanding the complex network of factors that drive the behaviour of simple organisms with the aim of translating this understanding into artificial systems.

The Pathogen Control Engineering Institute is involved in research into microbial processes in the environment including how bacteria can break down contaminants in soil and groundwater.

Professor Anne Neville, the Institute Director for the Institute of Engineering Thermofluids, Surfaces and Interfaces, holds the RAEng Chair in Emerging Technologies which is on bioinspired active surfaces.

Surface engineering

The Institute of Engineering Thermofluids, Surfaces and Interfaces is actively involved in research in the area of surface engineering. A new £1.6m multicapacity PVD system was installed recently and is being used to design functional coatings for tribology.

Medical devices and aids

The Institute of Particle Science and Engineering is involved in bio-insipred research relating to the pharmaceutical industry.

The Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering has some research activity and student projects in this area although it is not the primary focus of their activity.