Identify opportunities for new and improved technologies based on animal building behaviour

Animals are responsible for some of the world's most impressive architectural design. They construct in order to transform their environment, improve their quality of life and provide safety and security. Their achievements are immense it in the field of structural form and strength, microclimate creation, earth shelter, material exploitation, membrane design, ventilation or pest management. A few extraordinary examples of techniques employed by the natural world include:- sand grain structures of amoeba; climatic moderating behaviour of termites; air-open structures to moderate internal air quality; weaving and hollow beam construction techniques of birds. The natural world also offers sophisticated materials eg., tensile strength of spider silk; durability of wasp paper; and selective use of materials to provide appropriate strength, ventilation and thermal insulation.

The subject matter provides a rich and largely unexplored seam by which to understand the role of human construction in response to environmental pressures and research is timely. The animal world offers us opportunity to explore techniques used in construction directly within the context of sustainability, implicit in animal architecture, dealing as it does with biodiversity, environmental pollution and protection.