Biomimicry: UPPA creates a master’s degree in bio-inspired materials

In September 2020, the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour is launching a master’s degree that is one-of-its-kind in France: A degree that will allow students to delve into the world of living systems to develop new materials.  

The University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour is launching a master’s degree in bio-inspired materials. This two-year master’s course focused on bio-inspired materials will be taught in English and will start this September on the Pau campus. In time, it is hoped that it will be home to the future centre of excellence for marine biomimicry on the Basque coast. The aim is to welcome researchers (IPREM Océan and MANTA chair), students, companies and project developers under the same roof. This project has Communauté Pays Basque backing.  

Going by the name “BIM Master” for “Bio-Inspired Materials”, this course gives students the opportunity to draw inspiration from nature using a biomimicry approach. This multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary method relies on both basic science and materials engineering. It is based on the examination and understanding of living organisms and ecosystems to develop bio-inspired materials that are environmentally friendly.

This master’s degree is open to biology, chemistry, physics and materials graduates and includes several weeks of work placements within organisations of interest such as CEEBIOS, the Institute for Desirable Futures, etc. The emphasis is on project-mode work related to research carried out at the IPREM research institution and/or by private-sector partners.

“Thanks to this multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary course, which is at the heart of biomimicry, students will embrace new ways of thinking about syntheses, formulations and processing the materials of tomorrow that industrial partners need to build our future society,” Laurent Billon explained. Laurent Billion is a lecturer at UPPA and co-head of this new course with Corinne Nardin.

To find out more, visit: formation.univ-pau.fr/en/programs/science-and-technology-STS/master-degree-14/master-materials-science-and-engineering-83_1/master-degree-bio-inspired-materials-K2W1LG0G.html