Marianne ("M") Alleyne is interested in how biological systems can lead to innovative design in human society (biological inspiration). Insects in particular can serve as inspiration for innovation. For instance, the way insect cuticle is formed and how it is recycled can teach us a lot about the hierarchical organization of many resilient materials, about conservation of resources, and about adaptability. Life on earth has been around for more than 3.5 billion years; there is a lot to be learned from nature, but there are also limitations (scale, "just good enough" principle, etc.). She teaches BioInspiration in various forms on the University of Illinois campus (including on online course) in various departments. In addition to being a Research Scientist in Entomology Department, she is the graduate director for the university's online Master of Science in Teaching Biology Program.