Emilie Snell-Rood has a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and studies how
organisms respond to human environments. As faculty in Ecology, Evolution and
Behavior, she has taught several versions of a course on bio-inspired design which
aims to distill core concepts of biology for biomimetic approaches. These efforts have
led to several publications on the biomimetic process, including experimental
interventions to broaden the range of biological models explored for ideas. She has
recently concluded a large collaborative project funded by the Templeton Foundation
on the concept of "function" as a bridge between biology and design. This past year
she was recognized with two teaching awards that noted her incorporation of the
biomimetic approach into biology education.