Wild engineers

Melanie Farmer
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Nature
  • Updated Weekly

Wild Engineers explores how nature solves the functions engineers care about most: regulating temperature, managing flow, strengthening structures, protecting from fire, and more. Hosted by Melanie Farmer, with Master’s degrees in Biomimicry and Managing Innovation, each episode translates biological strategies into practical engineering insight, with a focus on building services.

Episodes

  1. Ep 3 How Nature Protects from Fire

    2d ago

    Ep 3 How Nature Protects from Fire

    How Banksia shrubs inspired researchers to develop a solution where pine wood resists ignition even at 1008C. Function: Protect from fire Biological model: Oldman Banksia (Banksia serrata) follicles Engineering translation: Heat-activated self-sealing material concepts tested at the Max Planck Institute Sources / further reading • Australian Plants Society. Banksia serrata. https://share.google/qAj9SpOmx1eZ5Z11o • Huss JC, et al. Temperature-induced self-sealing capability of Banksia follicles. 2018. https://share.google/111FL5JbKTnukWWM3 • Huss JC, et al. Protecting offspring against fire: Lessons from Banksia seed pods. 2019. https://share.google/w72njJAFMxvELUjEi Image credits • Banksia pod via Canva • Max Planck Institute, Jörg Abendrot via Wikimedia Written and produced by Melanie Farmer. Podcast: Wild engineers. For learning and inspiration. Music and production completed in Movavi 2026. Please validate any design application for technical use.

    5 min
  2. Ep 2 How Nature Reduces Acoustic Impact

    2d ago

    Ep 2 How Nature Reduces Acoustic Impact

    How Kingfisher’s beaks changed the way we design fast trains cutting noise by up to 15 decibels. Function: Reduce acoustic impact Biological model: Kingfisher beak Engineering translation: Shinkansen bullet train nose redesign Sources / further reading • Biomimicry Institute. Kingfisher-inspired Shinkansen design. https://share.google/mzcDAhsClBNQKl8pV • Crandell KE, Howe RO, Falkingham PL. Repeated evolution of drag reduction at the air-water interface in diving kingfishers. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 2019;16(154):20190125. https://share.google/3V3kDtxWmdsUXwgWw • Kikuchi, Katsuhiro & Iida, M. & Fukuda, T.. (2011). Optimization of Train Nose Shape for Reducing Micro-Pressure Wave Radiated from Tunnel Exit. Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control. 30. 1-19. 10.1260/0263-0923.30.1.1. https://share.google/6Otr8SZap2VH4ZkcB • Fish FE, Lauder GV. Passive and active flow control by swimming fishes and mammals. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics. 2006;38:193–224. https://share.google/fYrmvrEYY77IzQdz8 • Lovvorn JR, Jones DR. Body mass, volume, and buoyancy of some aquatic birds, and their relation to locomotor strategies. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 1991;69(11):2888–2892. https://share.google/R7gVqSL4GfjcE0JLM • Vogel S. Life in Moving Fluids: The Physical Biology of Flow. Princeton University Press; 1994. https://share.google/00fvyNg5U4vymwNQW Image credits • Kingfisher via Envato • Bullet train via Canva Written and produced by Melanie Farmer. Podcast: Wild engineers. For learning and inspiration. Music and production completed in Movavi 2026. Please validate any design application for technical use.

    3 min
  3. Ep 1 How Nature Regulates Temperature

    2d ago

    Ep 1 How Nature Regulates Temperature

    Discover how termites inspired an 82% drop in electricity use in the Australian-based CH2 building by designing smart chimneys just like termites. Function: Regulate temperature Biological model: African termite mounds Engineering translation: CH2 (Council House 2), Melbourne Sources / further reading • Arup. Biomimicry and the Built Environment. 2013. https://share.google/kBObCUIJzVvhhv95N • City of Melbourne. Council House 2: A Case Study in Sustainable Design. 2006. https://share.google/3upSbenEaGzMV8jyf • Ocko SA, et al. Solar-powered ventilation of African termite mounds. Science. 2017;357(6354):1246–1249. • Pearce, M. Council House 2 (CH2), Melbourne. https://share.google/42wyEva35hRoCvrmq • Turner JS. The Extended Organism: The Physiology of Animal-Built Structures. Harvard University Press; 2000. https://share.google/hR0qVlViZJPUr0Nx5 Image credits • Termite via Canva • CH2 building, Nick Carson via Wikimedia Written and produced by Melanie Farmer. Podcast: Wild engineers. For learning and inspiration. Music and production completed in Movavi 2026. Please validate any design application for technical use.

    4 min
  • 3 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Wild Engineers explores how nature solves the functions engineers care about most: regulating temperature, managing flow, strengthening structures, protecting from fire, and more. Hosted by Melanie Farmer, with Master’s degrees in Biomimicry and Managing Innovation, each episode translates biological strategies into practical engineering insight, with a focus on building services.

Information

  • Creator
    Melanie Farmer
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Melanie Farmer
  • Show Website
    Wild engineers