The rapidly emerging discipline of biogeotechnics is comprised of both bio-mediated and bio-inspired technologies. Bio-mediated technologies, such as microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) to cement sands and increase their strength and stability, have been the primary focus over the past decade and have seen exponential growth. Since the 2003 NAE Millennium Report, the international NSF workshops of 2007 and 2011, and discipline defining journal papers, the field of bio-mediated geotechnics has become an international research priority in the civil engineering and microbiology communities. Active research in the field exists in more than 15 countries, companies have been founded, national research centers established, and a new workforce pipeline created.

Bio-inspired geotechnics, the complimentary aspect of biogeotechnics, however, is in its infancy. Significant efforts are being led by the NSF ERC Center for Biomediated and Bioinspired Geotechnics (CBBG) which currently funds projects whose bio-inspiration comes from organisms that have exceptional abilities to use and/or engineer soil (e.g. tree roots, snakes, ants, clams, and worms). The bio-inspired geotechnics field is at a critical, formative stage. The basal definition and scope of the field is being defined, specific areas that hold exceptional promise for research and collaboration are being identified, understanding the broader field of bio-inspired engineering and design is underway, and research funding sources are being established. Therefore, the objectives of this workshop are to begin building interdisciplinary collaborations, identify research priorities and possible funding sources, engage with industry regarding implementability, and identify and address the educational needs of researchers entering the field and engineers entering the workforce.

This NSF funded workshop will bring together about 55 individual experts that are technically and demographically diverse, who collectively cover expertise in geotechnical engineering to biology to soft robotics, and demographics from established senior investigators to assistant professors to underrepresented graduate students. The workshop will held from May 19 to 22, 2019 at the Asilomar Conference Grounds which will facilitate continuous informal interactions as well as the planned formal workshop activities.

The workshop has been carefully designed in a structure that will scaffold from developing a mutual foundation of discipline understanding, to sharing current research and brainstorming new opportunities, to identifying the necessary developmental steps required to grow this interdisciplinary field that brings together engineers and scientists. An informal environment that fosters discussion, brainstorming, free sharing of ideas, and development of collaboration relationships has been incorporated into the agenda. Prior to the workshop, all participants will submit a short white-paper, related prior publications, and a one-page bio to be included in the workshop program. Finally, a manuscript for publication in a leading geotechnical engineering or bio-inspired design journal will be submitted within three months after the workshop.

Establish a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration

Interdisciplinary collaborations are at the heart of bio-inspired design. While constant interactions with biologists are essential, collaborations with researchers from other fields are equally important because bio-inspired design usually requires integration of a wide range of technologies and/or research tools.

Define “bio-inspired geotechnics”

This young field is still being defined, including its attributes, extent, relevant disciplines, research tools, workforce, demographics, and educational aspects. Bio-inspired design has been growing in engineering for the last two decades, and the literature on methods for research and idea generation are well-documented in the literature. A similar effort should be undertaken for bio-inspired geotechnics to allow for advancements from individuals and institutions to build on each other.

Foster exchange of ideas across disciplines to identify relevant areas of research

This interdisciplinary research field makes it paramount for engineers to develop a strong background in biology and bio-inspired design. However, this field also requires researchers from biology and other fields to know the challenges that are relevant in infrastructure construction and management, as well as the well-developed theories for analysis of soil behavior.

Identify areas in practice where bio-inspired solutions could generate transformative solutions/technologies

Input from industry is essential for the field to focus on areas that have high potential for impact. For instance, individuals from geotechnical practice that have an objective perspective can help researchers identify systems with large levels of uncertainty or produce large environmental impacts. These interactions will help researchers focus efforts on topics or technologies that could produce step changes in engineering and bio-inspiration.

Identify potential sources for research funding

Advancement of this field requires financial support from diverse sources that fund research at different levels of maturity. For instance, some sources seek to advance the state of knowledge (NSF), while others might seek to solve a specific problem (USGS, DOE, DOD, industry). The extent of the research performed is tied directly to the availability of funds; thus, discussions between established researchers from diverse fields with researchers new to bio-inspiration will encourage greater participation and increase diversity in the field.

Identify education priorities and resources for faculty and students entering the field

The pursuit of bio-inspired innovation requires faculty and students engaging in the field to develop a different, broader set of skill that are necessary for effective interdisciplinary research and collaboration. A specific focus of the workshop will be to learn from academics who teach bioinspired design courses and to develop a list of resources for new faculty and students to immerse themselves in bio-inspired design and avoid common “missteps.”