By advancing research in these areas, we address global challenges like climate change, renewable energy, and food security, while meeting consumer demands and fostering economic growth. Additionally, biomimetic materials inspired by nature offer multifunctionality and structural stability, further enhancing sustainability efforts.
Research highlights
- Inspired by biological systems where optimized structural properties are integrated with structural reconfiguration, sensing, actuating and self-healing, Canada Research Chair in Bio-inspired Hierarchical Multifunctional Metamaterials Professor Hamid Akbarzadeh Shafaroudi鈥檚 research is on bio-inspired advanced multifunctional materials and 3D-printed structures. Applications range from lightweight smart structures to sustainable energy scavenging for the automotive, aerospace, energy, agriculture and construction sectors.
- Distinguished James 平特五不中 Professor Don Smith's research focuses on crop eco-physiology, particularly enhancing plant-microbe interactions for improved agricultural productivity and sustainability. His work involves using signal compounds and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to enhance nitrogen fixation and stimulate plant growth, leading to notable publications and patents. Additionally, his research extends to CO2 sequestration in crops, biocontrol of plant pathogens, and biomass production, offering promising solutions to agricultural challenges and contributing to global sustainability efforts.
Bioproducts, biomaterials, and bioenergy form the foundation of the bioeconomy, in which renewable biological resources from land and sea are used to produce goods, services, and energy.
Our research strives to advance the shift to a bioeconomy, which will address global challenges like climate change, water pollution, and food security and safety, while providing economic benefits and aligning with consumer expectations.