Founder
Design scientist and systems theorist Dr. Melissa Sterry 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], and its lab Labioratorium®.
Her past academic activities include visiting lecturer, visiting fellow, workshop host, Masters thesis supervisor, assembly member, and guest critic at several leading European architecture and design research institutes, including The Bartlett at UCL, University of Innsbruck, Ravensbourne, University of the Arts London, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, AA School of Architecture, and University of Salford. The culmination of a several-year transdisciplinary study at the Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research [AVATAR] group, her PhD posits the potential for developing urban and peri-urban resilience to wildfires through the creation of complex 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.
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. Melissa 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. 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 internationally renown visual arts awards, the Creative Graduate Prize [2004-2010] and the Iconique Societás Awards [2007-2010].
Her past academic activities include visiting lecturer, visiting fellow, workshop host, Masters thesis supervisor, assembly member, and guest critic at several leading European architecture and design research institutes, including The Bartlett at UCL, University of Innsbruck, Ravensbourne, University of the Arts London, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, AA School of Architecture, and University of Salford. The culmination of a several-year transdisciplinary study at the Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research [AVATAR] group, her PhD posits the potential for developing urban and peri-urban resilience to wildfires through the creation of complex 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.
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. Melissa 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. 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 internationally renown visual arts awards, the Creative Graduate Prize [2004-2010] and the Iconique Societás Awards [2007-2010].
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. |
