Description du projet
Mécanismes de filtration biologique: étudier la diversité de la nature pour une conception bio-inspirée
La bio-inspiration (y compris la biomimétique et le biomimétisme) consiste à concevoir de nouveaux matériaux, dispositifs et applications en reproduisant des structures et des stratégies biologiques. Cependant, les différences entre les outils, les pratiques et les points de vue des divers praticiens de ce secteur constituent le principal obstacle à son plein développement. Afin de relever les défis à la fois conceptuels, méthodologiques et pratiques, le projet Nature4Nature, financé par l’UE, réunira des biologistes, des ingénieurs, des concepteurs et des fabricants dans le but de former des chercheurs en début de carrière dans un environnement d’apprentissage qui fera le lien entre les aspects d’inspiration, d’intégration et de mise en œuvre du processus de bio-inspiration. Dans ce cadre, le projet se concentrera collectivement sur les mécanismes de filtration biologique et cherchera à comprendre, tester et concevoir des systèmes de filtration à haut rendement, résistants au colmatage, capables d’atténuer les problèmes actuels auxquels sont confrontés les environnements aquatiques.
Objectif
Nature provides an almost inexhaustible source of inspiration for innovative designs that may help to tackle many of the world’s current social, economic and environmental challenges. In accordance, the potential of bioinspiration (including biomimetics and biomimicry) has become widely recognized in academia and industry. The main hurdle preventing the field of bioinspiration from delivering its promises, however, stems from differences in tools, practices and viewpoints of its practitioners, often obstructing further development towards successful products. Nature4Nature, a unique joint effort of biologists, engineers, designers and manufacturers, will immerse early stage researchers (ESRs) in a learning environment that fully spans the inspiration, integration and implementation aspects of bioinspired design to tackle the conceptual, methodological and practical challenges. It will provide ESRs (a) with a mindset and know-how to harness biodiversity into design; (b) with the theoretical background and practical skills for transferring biological model systems into engineering designs and applications; and (c) with an attitude and competence to implement bioinspired ideas in an explicit sustainable way. Nature4Nature will focus its research activities onto one model system: how to efficiently separate solid particles from liquids. Biological filtration systems have evolved repeatedly over the earth’s living history. Nature4Nature will teach ESRs to make the most of this rich heritage, using it as an inspiratory source for designing and manufacturing high-throughput, clog-resisting filtering systems that can help conserving and restoring the world’s aquatic habitats. By fostering a new generation of researchers operating at the interface between scientific disciplines, sectors and societal actors, Nature4Nature sets out to spur innovative practices and will aid in overcoming the barriers to implementation of bioinspiration in the design process.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological morphologycomparative morphology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological morphologyfunctional morphology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsfluid dynamicscomputational fluid dynamics
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régime de financement
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral NetworksCoordinateur
2000 Antwerpen
Belgique