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Asia-Pacific Workshop on Engineered Living Materials

The first Asia-Pacific Workshop on Engineered Living Materials (AP-ELMs) is a convergent international initiative that will connect world leaders in the fields of engineering, materials science, architecture and synthetic biology, to develop leading edge ELMs. The two-day event will be held on April the 11th and 12th 2024 at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, through support from the ANU and the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG). The workshop will bring together national and international researchers (Singapore, US), technologists, investors and industry to discuss the rapidly emerging field of ELMs, their potential for widespread positive impacts on sustainability, and opportunities for applications within the defence framework and beyond.

ELMs are the most relevant contemporary revolution in materials science and engineering and are likely surpass the performance of existing smart/active materials within the near future. ELMs are currently being developed for a wide variety of real-world applications, which range from soil mechanical reengineering to fungal-bacterial composite building materials. For optimal ELM design and fabrication, top-down performance parameters must be initially established and subsequently delivered via synergy between the living and non-living components. In practice, this requires key performers from a wide range of disciplines from inception if a convergent approach to solving key global challenges is to be achieved. This is the primary objective of the workshop.

The workshop is free to attend.

Keynote Speakers

Prof. Guillermo Carlos Bazan, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore.

Dr. Anastasia Globa, Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney.

Prof. Kirill Alexandrov, School of Biology & Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology.

Prof. Antonio Tricoli, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Sydney.

Asst. Prof. Hortense Le Ferrand, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

Dr Zheng Wang, Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Office of Naval Research, US.

Prof. Colin Jackson, Samsara Eco/Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University.

Prof. Robert Speight, Director, Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Plaeorm, CSIRO.

Prof. Caitlin Byrt, Research School of Biology, Australian National University.

Asst Prof Lum Guo Zhan, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

Dr. Scott Walper, Science Director for Synthetic Biology, US Office of Naval Research Global.

Prof. Adam Perriman, Research School of Chemistry/ John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University.