Bio-Inspired Design

A student is outdoors examining nature through a magnifying glass

Registration is closed for this program. Please view our Teen Research Programs page for current offerings.

Entering Grades 10-11-12

06/13/2022 - 06/17/2022

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m

Financial Aid Applications Now Closed

The Lawrence Hall of Science

Bio-Inspired Design

How can scientists and engineers adopt ideas from nature to solve problems? In this Teen Research Program, you will experience firsthand the excitement of how the natural world sparks innovation in the fields of biology and engineering. Together we will build nature-inspired robots, investigate the science that enables geckos to defy gravity, and engineer our own design application to address a real-life problem. You will gain skills and knowledge about bio-inspired engineering and design, while adding valuable experience to your college application or career path. 

SOLD OUT

Instructor: Haider Ali Bhatti

Originally from Pakistan, Ali and his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Englewood, New Jersey. Ali earned his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, followed by a master’s degree in Biological Science Education at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. After graduating, he taught high school biology and also worked at Khan Academy as a biology content fellow.

Currently, Ali is a Ph.D. student in the SESAME program at UC Berkeley, where his research focuses on how to make STEM education more inclusive, interpersonal, and interdisciplinary using bio-inspired design. He is advised by Professor Robert Full of the Integrative Biology department and is working on the HHMI Eyes Toward Tomorrow Bioinspired Design Program. He loves sports, so you can catch him on the basketball court missing wide-open 3’s or turning off the TV in frustration as his favorite teams (Nets, Mets, and AC Milan) maintain their mediocrity!