Design and Nature IV : Comparing Design in Nature with Science and Engineering

Throughout history, the parallels between nature and human design, in
mathematics, engineering and other areas, have inspired many leading
thinkers. Today, the huge increase in biological knowledge, developments in
design engineering systems, together with the virtual revolution in computer
power and simulation modelling, have all made possible more comprehensive
studies of nature.

Scientists and engineers now have at their disposal a vast array of
relationships for materials, mechanisms and control. The resulting laws have
been painstakingly assembled by observation and analysis and span the cosmic scale of space down to the molecular level of genetics. In particular, they have made us aware of the rich diversity of the natural world around us.

These developments are presented here in the proceedings of the Fourth
International Conference on Comparing Design in Nature with Science and Engineering. The Conference topics include: Shape and form in engineering and nature; Nature and architectural design; Thermodynamics in nature;
Biomimetics; Natural materials in engineering; Mechanics in nature;
Bioengineering; Solution from nature; Complexity; Sustainability studies;
Education and training.