Bridging the Gap Between Biological and Synthetic Systems

Multifunctional design encompasses materials, structures and/or material systems that have the ability to perform multiple functions through judicious combinations of structural properties and at least one additional functional capability as dictated by the system application requirements. Multifunctionality is ubiquitous in biological systems and leads to systems that are highly efficient material and energy-wise. Bio-systems are synthesized at a molecular level with a limited palate of material ingredients resulting in multiscale hierarchical material architectures with active, coupled chemical, electrical, mechanical processes and signaling. However, there is a large gap in our current understanding of how to translate and scale the science of multifunctionality in biological/natural systems for creating larger-scale synthetic materials and structures with unique multifunctional capabilities and new levels of performance. Visionary examples include "autonomic" structures that can sense, diagnose and respond to external stimuli, "adaptive" structures allowing reconfiguration of functionality, shape, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties, and "self-sustaining" systems with integrated energy storage and harvesting capabilities. This conference will focus on addressing the scientific issues underpinning advancements in: the translation of model biological functions to synthetic systems, signaling (e.g. chemical, electrical, mechanical), self-learning, chemical transport and transformation for control of mechanical properties, the role of interfaces and design/fabrication approaches for creating multi-scale hierarchical material systems with multifunctional performance.