What is the future of Engineering with Bioengineering Pioneer Donald E Ingber – Museum of Science
NextIs biological inspiration the key to the future of engineering? Bioethicist Insoo Hyun sits down with Donald E. Ingber, Founding Director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Professor of Bioengineering at Harvard’s School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Together they explore the profound impact of Nature on engineering beyond the realms of cold, hard mathematics. The fusion of scientific disciplines is driving advancements that were once thought to be the domain of science fiction.
Their discussion illuminates the transformative power of engineering across diverse fields, from medicine to manufacturing, highlighting the breaking down of traditional disciplinary boundaries. Physicists, chemists, and biologists are paving the way for creative new collaborations. Ingber’s groundbreaking research reveals how leveraging biological principles can inspire revolutionary engineering innovations, offering a glimpse into the future of scientific exploration and its potential to reshape our world from medicine to sustainability in the face of the global climate crisis.
Donald E. Ingber has been at the forefront of integrating molecular cell biology with engineering, chemistry, physics, and computer science to pioneer fields such as angiogenesis, tissue engineering, and systems biology. His work has not only contributed to understanding how blood vessels form but also led to the development of one of the first angiogenesis inhibitors, TNP-470, marking a significant milestone in clinical trials.