Dr. Melissa Sterry, founder of Bioratorium®
Q&A with Dr. Melissa Sterry
We sit down with acclaimed design scientist Dr. Melissa Sterry, founder of pioneering bio-inspired innovation consultancy Bioratorium®, to explore the intersection of biology, design, and technology. As a leading futurist and expert in bio-enterprise, Melissa shares her journey into nature-inspired design, the vision behind Bioratorium®, and how businesses can harness the power of the bioeconomy. With decades of experience at the cutting edge of the field, she offers invaluable insights into the future of sustainable, nature-driven solutions.
MELISSA, YOUR WORK AT BIORATORIUM® IS ALL ABOUT DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM NATURE. HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN NATURE-INSPIRED DESIGN?
My interest in nature-inspired design dates back to my teenage years. It really began during a study trip to Florence, where I learned about the works of Leonardo da Vinci. He was a true pioneer in observing and applying natural principles to solve human challenges. That trip sparked something in me, and during my undergraduate studies in the early ’90s, I produced my first project in the field—an apparel collection designed to safely biodegrade into the environment after its use. This idea was an early exploration into what we now call cradle-to-cradle design, a concept that’s been central to my work ever since. From there, my passion for nature-inspired design grew, and it continues to drive much of what I do today, including my research projects Bionic City®, which founded in 2010 was the seminal research project to ask how nature would design a city, and Panarchic Codex®, which a spin out of the PhD I completed in 2018, presents the first-ever design paradigm to solve the problem of living with wildfire by applying how species that evolved to live with fire already have.
https://www.panarchiccodex.com
CAN YOU GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW LEONARDO DA VINCI USED NATURE TO INSPIRE DESIGN?
Nature was the primary source of inspiration for many, if not most of da Vinci’s most pioneering designs. For example, in the 1480s da Vinci designed not one, but several seminal concepts for flight that were based on observations he had made of birds and bats in flight. He also drew inspiration from a tortoise shell to design a tank. Another example of how he looked to the natural world for solutions to human problems comes in the form of a sewage system he designed that was informed by his study of hydrological freshwater systems including streams and rivers. Da Vinci’s many nature-inspired designs are proof of how mimicry of plants, animals, and other members of the Kingdoms of Life, of the systems – ecosystems – they form, and of the many other systems of the natural world can be integral to solving design problems. Those that want to find out a bit more about how da Vinci drew inspiration for design from nature can hear about some more examples in a programme I hosted on his works for BBC Radio 4 a few years ago.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004l8d
BEFORE FOUNDING BIORATORIUM®, YOU HAD AN EXTENSIVE CAREER ACROSS MULTIPLE FIELDS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE LEADING UP TO THE CREATION OF BIORATORIUM®?
My career has largely been a mix of executive roles and consulting across industries including design, manufacturing, technology, and engineering. I’ve always worked at the forefront of innovation, helping both public and private sector clients to navigate the complexities of emerging technologies and future trends. Futures research became a fundamental part of my practice early on, even during my undergraduate years. I’ve been fortunate to work on pioneering concepts in fields that were often in their infancy, including several first-to-market startups and world-first scientific and technological concepts, developing strategies, products, and services that anticipated new markets. Alongside this, I’ve served on numerous scientific and other committees, boards, and awards juries evaluating pioneering designs and technologies across sectors like architecture, fashion, product, and service innovation. This transdisciplinary, hands-on experience, combined with my academic background and PhD research on the interface between human and non-human systems, really set the foundation for Bioratorium®.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND FOUNDING BIORATORIUM®?
Life has been evolving on Earth for about 3.7 billion years, and since humans took our very first steps, it has continuously inspired our creativity. From the earliest times, various species and ecosystems have served as models, metaphors, and muses for design, engineering, and construction. Bioratorium® was founded to take that inspiration a step further by empowering businesses to harness the potential of nature’s capacity to catalyse pioneering ideas, insights, and innovations. We work at the cutting-edge of fields like biomaterials, biodesign, biocomputing, biomimetics, and biotechnology to help companies embrace nature-driven strategies to address complex environmental and societal challenges.
THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLY TECHNICAL. CAN YOU GIVE US A MORE SUCCINCT OVERVIEW OF BIORATORIUM®’S MISSION?
At its core, Bioratorium® helps businesses learn the lessons that nature has to teach. We guide companies in applying the principles found within the members of the Kingdoms of Life (plants, animals, fungi, etc.) and the assemblies they form (ecosystems) to innovate new products, services, and business models. Whether it’s ecological systems thinking, regenerative design, or circular economy solutions, we offer a broad range of seminal expertise to create sustainable, ethical, and resilient outcomes.
WHAT SETS BIORATORIUM® APART FROM OTHER CONSULTANCIES IN THE INNOVATION SPACE?
One thing that makes us unique is our deep, holistic approach. Our expertise spans the entire spectrum of bio-innovation, from research to commercialisation. We’re not just focused on one aspect, like biomaterials, biomanufacturing, or biocomputing. We integrate knowledge from multiple fields to provide solutions that are both practical and cutting-edge. Additionally, we’re committed to working in partnership with our clients. Our approach is experimental and tailored to meet their specific needs, rather than being prescriptive.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT LABIORATORIUM®, THE LABORATORY ARM OF YOUR BUSINESS?
Labioratorium® is our dedicated space where we collaborate with companies on groundbreaking research and development. It’s where we translate bio-innovation into actionable strategies for industries such as design, manufacturing, architecture, utilities, and transport. Our global network of leading researchers, designers, and entrepreneurs ensures that we’re constantly at the forefront of bio-innovation.
YOU MENTIONED BIORATORIUM® OFFERS A SUITE OF SERVICES. COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?
Our services range from high-level strategic advisories for C-suite executives to company-wide education programs. We also deliver industry-leading white papers, public awareness campaigns, and bespoke research initiatives. Our membership program is designed to support companies at every stage of their bio-innovation journey, with seven tiers tailored to different levels of engagement and need.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING ARE CENTRAL TO YOUR APPROACH. COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW BIO STUDIUM™ FITS INTO THE PICTURE?
BIOstudium™ is our educational branch, and it’s all about helping businesses understand how aspects of the living world work and how to apply that knowledge. We offer masterclasses, workshops, and curated learning programs on themes such as designing with nature, designing with circularity, designing with complexity, and design with resilience. The idea is to equip companies with the tools they need to work with nature, not against it.
ARE THESE LEARNING PROGRAMS CUSTOMISABLE FOR BUSINESSES?
Absolutely. Our programs can be customized to fit the needs of any business, whether they’re looking for a one-off masterclass or a comprehensive educational package that includes ebooks, films, or digital learning materials. We offer options for different levels of expertise from beginner to advanced and the programs can be delivered in-person, online, or in a hybrid format.
WHAT INDUSTRIES DO YOU TYPICALLY WORK WITH?
Our clients come from a wide range of industries, including design, manufacturing, architecture, utilities, and construction. Their commonality is they are all forward-thinking companies that are interested in applying nature-inspired strategies to innovate and solve complex challenges in a way that leads not follows in their respective sector.
BIORATORIUM® ALSO OFFERS SERVICES FOR BUSINESSES EXPLORING BIO-ENTERPRISE. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS ENTAILS?
Our Bio-enterprise service is specifically designed to help businesses navigate the unique and often complex challenges of working within the bioeconomy. We deliver strategic briefings, white papers, and reports that tackle everything from technical hurdles to ethical concerns. For companies looking to integrate concepts, materials, and methods inspired by living systems, we help rethink traditional processes, whether in design, production, or even intellectual property.
We also guide clients in identifying sector-shaping start-ups, market trends, government initiatives, and emerging talent. Through executive presentations, foresight reports, and board mentoring, we assist companies in developing incisive strategies and best practices to thrive in the bioeconomy. Our role is to ensure that businesses can seize the opportunities and avoid the risks of bio-enterprise.
SUSTAINABILITY IS A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS. HOW DOES BIORATORIUM® CUT THROUGH THE HYPE TO DELIVER REAL VALUE?
There’s a lot of jargon and superficial talk around sustainability, but we’re focused on crafting credible nature-inspired solutions drawn from a depth understanding of how human and non-human systems work, not soundbites of the kind that attain flash-in-the-pan press without delivering to the bottom line. Our goal is to help clients develop strategies that are truly sustainable, ethical, and resilient, and not just in the short term, but for many years to come.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR COMPANIES PURSUING NATURE-INSPIRED DESIGN TO WORK WITH EXPERTS?
The living world is incredibly complex, and while we can measure many of its parts, how we perceive nature is often subjective. Bias can cloud our judgment, making it difficult to see natural processes for what they truly are. Experts with a deep understanding of nature’s systems can guide businesses in working with, not against, these processes—helping them to navigate the complexities and avoid common misconceptions, ensuring more effective and sustainable outcomes.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF BIO-INNOVATION FOR BUSINESSES HEADED?
Bio-innovation is only going to become more integral as we face increasing environmental and societal challenges. As we continue to learn from nature’s wisdom, I believe we’ll see businesses evolving in ways that are both economically viable and ecologically sound. It’s not just about sustainability; it’s about creating systems that are resilient and capable of thriving in the long term. Those interested to learn more about the extraordinary potential of bio-innovation to shape future industries and society at large can get a taster if they head to YouTube.com and watch our BIOfutures interview series featuring foremost pioneers in the field.
FINALLY, MELISSA IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK TOMORROW MAY LOOK DIFFERENT TO TODAY BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN NATURE-INSPIRED DESIGN?
There are many and wonderful ways that nature-inspired design is already shaping the near and far future. When in1994, in the second year of my Bachelors degree, I conceived of the concept of a ready-to-wear women’s apparel collection that, like food, could be thrown onto a compost heap to safely biodegrade at the end of the season in the same way that vegetable peelings do, we were decades off being able to take the idea to market. Thirty years later there’s not one, but many textile researchers worldwide that are experimenting with biological materials that, like my seminal concept, could enable us to do just that. While their numbers remain few, there’s also an increasing number of fashion designers that are exploring how we might literally grow fashion garments.
Though I still occasionally consult to fashion companies, my research focus is on the built environment, and more specifically, on how we can create buildings, and in turn cities that mimic the workings of ecosystems and the species that inhabit them, and that work sync with their various cycles. Much as that might sound like something from science fiction, we already have the literal building blocks. Another project I contribute to is the world’s first furniture orchard, a company that literally grows chairs, among other things. A member of the executive advisory board, my role has largely centred on how we scale this revolutionary concept from proof-of-concept prototypes, some of which can be seen in leading museums and galleries, to people’s homes. Growing a chair can take around 7 years, meaning that the standard business rule book does not apply. It’s just one example of how bio-enterprise involves thinking about far more than just what you grow or otherwise create in collaboration with nature, but also how you create a viable business operation. Though all but the most incremental of change sometimes comes slow, innovation is like water, in that, no matter how radical, whatever barriers stand in its way, if not sooner, then certainly later it typically breaks through.