Where can we find some guidance during this pandemic? That's the million-dollar questions. Well, those in the field of biomimicry say look to the forest floor.
Stephanie A. Fernhaber and Alyssa Y. Stark joins Dr. Pam to talk about all things nature, what exactly is "biomimicry" and looking to the earth for help.
Check out their WSJ article, “To Survive the Pandemic, Entrepreneurs Might Try Learning From Nature”
Dr. Alyssa Stark is an assistant professor at Villanova University in the Department of Biology. Her interests lie at the intersection of biology and material science, focusing on the structure and function of biological organisms and how we can use these for bio-inspired design and biomimicry. Currently, she works on the adhesive systems of geckos, ants, and sea urchins. Her work studying how geckos stick to wet surfaces has been highlighted by The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and The Huffington Post, among others. In 2014, Dr. Stark received her Ph.D. in Integrated Bioscience from the University of Akron, Ohio via the Departments of Biology and Polymer Science. Dr. Stark was a postdoctoral associate at the University of Louisville in the Department of Biology from 2014-2017, spending much of her time at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. In 2017 Dr. Stark joined the faculty at Villanova University in the Department of Biology. Dr. Stark was the recipient of the 2018 Early Career Scientist Award from the Adhesion Society for her fundamental contributions and groundbreaking research on biological adhesion. In 2020 Dr. Stark was the recipient of the Carl Gans Award for outstanding young investigator in the field of comparative biomechanics, presented by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Dr. Stephanie A. Fernhaber is an educator and researcher with a passion for spurring innovation. As an associate professor of entrepreneurship within Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, she teaches a variety of courses including social entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial mindset. Her research has been published in leading academic journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship, Theory & Practice. Stephanie has co-created two books: Routledge Companion to International Entrepreneurship, Teaching the Entrepreneurial Mindset to Engineers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and hiking with her husband and three daughters.