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Slime Mold Streamlining: River Restoration

Disciplines:

Environmental and Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Ecology, Sustainability Studies, Urban Planning, Business

Designing slime mold bio-inspired computational models for water flow optimization in ecological restoration of rivers and their freshwater habitats.

An internship on the fascinating world of biomimicry and computational modeling which combines principles of biomimicry, engineering, and computational modeling to optimize water flow and distribution inspired by the remarkable properties of slime mold. Through a series of interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, and guest lectures, participants will explore the intersection of nature-inspired design and cutting-edge technology.


The internship begins with an introduction to biomimicry and an exploration of slime mold biology, laying the foundation for understanding how natural systems can inspire innovative solutions. Participants will delve into computational modeling fundamentals, learning how to simulate ecological interactions, habitat connectivity, and freshwater flows using advanced computational tools.


As the program progresses, participants will apply their knowledge to develop biomimetic solutions for habitat connectivity and freshwater flow dynamics. Case studies and real-world examples will provide insights into successful applications of biomimicry in engineering and technology. Guest lectures from industry experts will offer valuable perspectives on computational modeling in biomimicry research and design, as well as future trends in the field.


By the end of the internship, you will emerge with a deep understanding of biomimicry principles, computational modeling techniques, and their applications in solving real-world challenges related to water management and sustainability.

Available Intern Positions:

3 High School, 3 Undergrad & 1 Master, PhD

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“I feel like my biggest accomplishment with this whole entire project was making great connections with the people I was working with.”

Alannah Johnson (ASU’23) 

MS Biomimicry

Mycology Intern and Mentor 2023

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Biomimicry and Slime Mold Biology

  • Session 1: Principles of Biomimicry

  • Session 2: Understanding Slime Mold Behavior and Characteristics

  • Guest Lecture 1: Introduction to Computational Modeling Techniques


Week 2: Computational Modeling Fundamentals

  • Session 3: Computational Modeling for Biomimetic Design

  • Session 4: Biomimetic Design Principles in Computational Modeling

  • Guest Lecture 2: Biomimicry in Engineering and Technology


Week 3: Biomimetic Engineering for Habitat Connectivity

  • Session 5: Biomimicry in Habitat Connectivity Solutions

  • Session 6: Computational Modeling of Habitat Connectivity


Week 4: Biomimicry in Freshwater Flow Dynamics

  • Session 7: Biomimetic Solutions for Water Flow Optimization

  • Session 8: Computational Modeling of Freshwater Flow Patterns


Week 5: Biomimetic Solutions for Ocean Desalination

  • Session 9: Biomimicry in Ocean Desalination Technologies

  • Session 10: Computational Modeling of Ocean Desalination Systems

  • Guest Lecture 3: Computational Modeling in Biomimicry Research


Week 6: Project Development and Case Studies

  • Session 11: Biomimetic Design Project Development

  • Session 12: Case Studies in Biomimetic Design


Week 7: Final Project Presentation and Reflection

  • Session 13: Final Project Presentations

  • Guest Lecture 4: Future Trends in Biomimicry and Computational Modeling


Week 8: Reflection and Wrap-Up

  • Session 14: Reflection on Key Learnings

  • Session 15: Future Directions in Biomimetic Engineering

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