Academics from the University of Bath's prestigious Centre for Biomimetic and Natural Technologies are to release at a workshop the results of their latest research harnessing the power of nature to develop new technologies.

The Centre pioneers research in many areas, using nature as a guide: for example, one current project is to develop clothing that automatically adapts to outside temperatures to warm or cool the wearer. This is based loosely on the mechanical principles of animal fur and bird feathers.

On September 20 and 21, a special workshop entitled 'Conflict, Analogy and Natural Design' will be held to explain these ideas, at the Carpenter House Innovation Centre near Bath Spa railway station. The event is part of the 9th International Biomimetics conference, which continues in Reading later in the week.

"The conference is open to inventors, people running innovative new businesses, academics, consultants and managers from across the globe'', said Anja-Karina Pahl, one of the organisers. "We not only explore the link between nature and technology, but actually turn biology into creativity.

"What we say to entrepreneurs is: use our case history to develop your business. There are millions of years of research that can help us, in nature. And Biomimetics is still such a new area of technology transfer that enormous opportunities exist for people to make discoveries and transform these into successful patents.

"Our workshop presents advanced strategies for developing commercial inventions - it's a great way to turn opportunities out there into something relevant to modern industry. We invite people to come and break through a challenge in their industry or research area with us."

The workshop will be led by Pro
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Contact: Tony Trueman
t.trueman@bath.ac.uk
44-122-538-4220
University of Bath
1-Sep-2004