Treffer: Improving Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge Transfer for Bio-Inspired Engineering Design.

Title:
Improving Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge Transfer for Bio-Inspired Engineering Design.
Authors:
Hassan H; J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA., Layton A; J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Source:
Integrative and comparative biology [Integr Comp Biol] 2025 Dec 05; Vol. 65 (6), pp. 1620-1634.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101152341 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1557-7023 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15407063 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Integr Comp Biol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: 2006- : Oxford : Oxford University Press
Original Publication: McLean, VA : Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, c2002-
MeSH Terms:
Bioengineering* , Interdisciplinary Communication*
Grant Information:
J. Mike Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering; SICB; Company of Biologists; American Association of Anatomists; Division of Comparative Biology
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250625 Date Completed: 20251210 Latest Revision: 20251210
Update Code:
20251210
DOI:
10.1093/icb/icaf119
PMID:
40560177
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

Bio-inspired design has become a significant driver of innovation, enabling the development of effective solutions to some of the world's toughest challenges. Bio-inspired design leverages evolutionary advancements to create products and processes that are often more efficient and sustainable. However, applying biological insights to engineering can be challenging due to the distinct ways the two disciplines define and interpret core concepts. This paper explores the cognitive and technical skills required to effectively translate biological inspiration into engineering solutions. Our hypothesis focuses on bridging the "language and representation gap" between biology and engineering. The goal of this paper is to identify key aspects of biological representation that enable its successful adaptation into engineering design, fostering the development of more impactful and efficient bio-inspired solutions. The analysis of student feedback and ideation outputs revealed that engineers preferred biology texts with a medium level of technical complexity, balancing ease of understanding with image quantity. Basic references were found to support diverse idea generation, while more technical texts proved useful and necessary for understanding in-depth biological insights and applying them to engineering problems. Future research could explore the impact of information presentation order, the role of biological experts in deepening insights, and the use of machine learning to refine how biological information is selected and categorized to enhance the bio-inspired design process.
(© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site-for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)