SEMINAR/演講通知

December 16, 2024 (Monday)
Hui-En Auditorium/懷恩講堂, 2:00pm-3:00pm

Designing Sustainable Engineered Living Materials for Next-gen infrastructure systems
From Fundamental Mechanics to Novel Applications

Kun-Hao Yu, Ph.D.

Incoming Assistant Professor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University

Abstract

The escalating challenges of climate change and increasing natural disasters demand innovative solutions for developing resilient and sustainable infrastructure. Bio-inspired materials offer a promising approach by mimicking nature’s ingenious designs. In our research, we began by studying synthetic bio-inspired materials to replicate properties such as self-healing, adaptation, and remodeling. These efforts provided a strong foundation for translating nature-inspired concepts into material innovations. However, synthetic materials lack the dynamic, living characteristics of biological systems, which led us to explore the integration of living organisms into materials for enhanced functionality. In this talk, I will first present our recent breakthroughs in using living chloroplasts and bacterial biomineralization to metabolize 3D-printed materials and fabricate functional, adaptive structures. In the second part, I will highlight our innovation in utilizing natural hierarchical porous biominerals to enhance 3D printing performance and boost CO2 absorption efficiency in cementitious materials, paving the way for sustainable construction practices. I will conclude by discussing the opportunities and challenges of engineered-living materials, which hold the potential to transform future infrastructure into adaptive, resilient,
and environmentally responsive systems.