Materials produced by living organisms often demonstrate superior characteristics such as multifunctionality and dynamic properties that serve specific functions and various survival demands. Living systems therefore serve as a rich source of inspiration to scientists and engineers who aim to design materials with similar properties. This Symposium will focus on the discussion of the mechanisms and strategies that Nature revealed and will address some of the most pressing current materials challenges. In turn it will be discussed how the lessons from nature can be implemented in to various synthetic materials. Common themes will include but are not limited to bio-inspired and biomimetic strategies for controlling materials’ mechanical properties, optical properties, chemical feedback, and energy harvesting.

biomaterial biomimetic (assembly) colloid composite crystal nanostructure optical self-assembly structural