Founder
Design scientist and systems theorist Melissa Sterry, PhD is recognised as a world-leading authority on the science, technology and thinking that could help humanity to build a brighter future. A design practice; enterprise and innovation; and transdisciplinary science graduate, her career has been spent working with leading-edge ideas, individuals, and institutions worldwide. A recipient of several national and international innovation, creativity and enterprise awards, including the Mensa Education and Research Foundation International Award for enhancing intelligence that benefits society, Melissa is listed in the 'Libertine 100’ women with complex, beautiful and potentially world-changing ideas. Melissa is the founder/director of Bionic City® [Est. 2010], of London-based biofuturism consultancy Bioratorium® [Est. 2019], its lab Labioratorium®, and open-access research project Panarchic Codex® [2018].
Her past/present academic activities include visiting lecturer, visiting fellow, workshop host, Masters thesis supervisor, assembly member, guest critic and external examiner at several leading European architecture and design research institutes, including The Bartlett at UCL, Central Saint Martins, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, University of Innsbruck, Ravensbourne, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, AA School of Architecture, and University of Salford. Her wider affiliations include guest professor with Professors Without Borders and guest scientist with Lecturers Without Borders. The culmination of a several-year transdisciplinary study at the Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research [AVATAR] group, her PhD, 'Panarchistic Architecture', posits the potential for developing urban and peri-urban resilience to wildfires through the creation of complex inter-related adaptive architectural, material, and information systems that mimic the biochemistries, behaviours, and relationships of fire-adapted flora and fauna species, and the ecosystems they form.
A chartered scientist with the Science Council and fellow of the Institute of Science and Technology, of the Design Research Society, and of the Royal Society of Arts, Melissa is published in 60+ international scientific, industry and consumer journals, magazines, books, reports, and white papers including the Global Innovation Science Handbook, for which she authored the chapter on Biomimetics and The Routledge Companion to Ecological Design Thinking, for which she authored the chapter on designing for resilience to wildfire. She has contributed as a scientific committee member, peer-reviewer, editorial board member, and juror to several leading scientific, sustainability, built environment, and design journals, conferences, societies, and awards worldwide, and participated as a keynote speaker, panelist, and chair at over a hundred leading international conferences, seminars, festivals, awards, and other events.
Her previous works include founding the award-winning sustainability think tank and collaborative laboratory Societás [2004 - 2010]; co-founding award-winning catalyst for rapid innovation in sustainable design for the built environment, New Frontiers [2009 - 2010]; and co-founding the first digital visual arts and fashion arts awards, the Creative Graduate Prize [2004-2010] and the Iconique Societás Awards [2007-2010]. In addition to her doctorate, Melissa has a postgraduate certificate in enterprise and innovation and a bachelors degree in Design Practice, among other qualifications.
Her past/present academic activities include visiting lecturer, visiting fellow, workshop host, Masters thesis supervisor, assembly member, guest critic and external examiner at several leading European architecture and design research institutes, including The Bartlett at UCL, Central Saint Martins, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, University of Innsbruck, Ravensbourne, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, AA School of Architecture, and University of Salford. Her wider affiliations include guest professor with Professors Without Borders and guest scientist with Lecturers Without Borders. The culmination of a several-year transdisciplinary study at the Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research [AVATAR] group, her PhD, 'Panarchistic Architecture', posits the potential for developing urban and peri-urban resilience to wildfires through the creation of complex inter-related adaptive architectural, material, and information systems that mimic the biochemistries, behaviours, and relationships of fire-adapted flora and fauna species, and the ecosystems they form.
A chartered scientist with the Science Council and fellow of the Institute of Science and Technology, of the Design Research Society, and of the Royal Society of Arts, Melissa is published in 60+ international scientific, industry and consumer journals, magazines, books, reports, and white papers including the Global Innovation Science Handbook, for which she authored the chapter on Biomimetics and The Routledge Companion to Ecological Design Thinking, for which she authored the chapter on designing for resilience to wildfire. She has contributed as a scientific committee member, peer-reviewer, editorial board member, and juror to several leading scientific, sustainability, built environment, and design journals, conferences, societies, and awards worldwide, and participated as a keynote speaker, panelist, and chair at over a hundred leading international conferences, seminars, festivals, awards, and other events.
Her previous works include founding the award-winning sustainability think tank and collaborative laboratory Societás [2004 - 2010]; co-founding award-winning catalyst for rapid innovation in sustainable design for the built environment, New Frontiers [2009 - 2010]; and co-founding the first digital visual arts and fashion arts awards, the Creative Graduate Prize [2004-2010] and the Iconique Societás Awards [2007-2010]. In addition to her doctorate, Melissa has a postgraduate certificate in enterprise and innovation and a bachelors degree in Design Practice, among other qualifications.
By applying resilience theory, biomimicry, and living architecture principles to every aspect of building, she [Melissa Sterry] is creating a city model that not only anticipates but welcomes intensifying natural phenomena. |
Melissa's ambitious projects aim to create the kinds of change that could plausibly help us out of some of the most serious environmental challenges we face as a society. A rare combination of a visionary perspective with excellent organisational and networking skills. |
