bio-inspired technologies for the modern world: emerging trends and applications

Nature gives us ample opportunity to understand and observe her secrets, and scientists and inventors can and do study the characteristics of things in nature to come up with amazing and astonishing technologies and products invented as a result.

This new volume provides a sampling of technological issues that have been tackled with the help of biologically inspired engineering, by such things in nature as bionic plants, the lotus leaf, insects and beetles, geckos, bats, spiders, and butterflies. It considers bio-inspired technologies that have been applied in water purification, for business lessons, in healthcare and medicine, and more.

This unique volume is an inspiring resource for professionals, researchers, scholars, engineers, and businessmen and businesswomen interested in the latest developments by studying the wonders of natural science.

R. Ramakrishna Reddy, PhD, is a former Professor at the Department of Physics at Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India. He has over 30 years of teaching and research experience. He served as a Registrar of Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, in 2006 and of Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, in 2009, and as a Principal to S.K. University College of Engineering and Technology during 2009-2012, Anantapur, India. His research includes spectroscopy and molecular structure, solid-state and materials chemistry, and atmospheric science. Prof. Reddy has received many prestigious awards, including a University Grants Commission (UGC) research award for 1999; Andhra Pradesh Best Teacher Award for the year 2005; the American Biographical Institute Inc. (USA) ＂＂Man of the Year 1995＂＂; Bharat Jyothi Award for the year 2006 by the Indian International Friendship Society, New Delhi; and various best scientist and fellowship awards (FNESA) for 2006 and 2007 by the National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi. He served as a UGC-BSR Faculty Fellow and UGC emeritus professorship for 2012-15 and 2017-2019 respectively. He was chosen as one of the visiting scientists to IUCAA (Astronomy & Astrophysics), Pune, continuously for 15 years, and IISc, Bangalore. He has carried out 12 research projects (ISRO, UGC, DST) and has published 250 research articles in national and international journals. Under his guidance, over 20 students earned their doctoral degrees. He is a reviewer for international scientific journals and a life member of scientific societies. He has authored four books related to atmospheric science published in Germany, two for graduate students and 12 popular science books. He published around over 250 popular science articles in Telugu dailies and weeklies. Dr. Reddy received his PhD in spectroscopy (Physics) in 1981 from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, India.

T. Pullaiah, PhD, is a former Professor at the Department of Botany at Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India, where he has taught for more than 35 years. He has held several positions at the university, including Dean, Faculty of Biosciences, Head of the Department of Botany, Head of the Department of Biotechnology, and Member of Academic Senate. He was President of the Indian Botanical Society (2014), President of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (2013), and Fellow of the Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences. Under his guidance over 50 students earned their doctoral degrees. He has authored 70 books, edited 40 books, and published over 340 research papers, including reviews and book chapters. His books include Redsanders: Silviculture and Conservation (Springer), Genetically Modified Crops (Springer), Sandalwood: Silviculture, Conservation and Applications (Springer), Mangrove: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Conservation (Springer), Advances in Cell and Molecular Diagnostics (Elsevier), Camptothecin and Camptothecin Producing Plants (Elsevier), Paclitaxel (Elsevier), Monograph on Brachystelma and Ceropegia in India (CRC Press), Ethnobotany of India (5 volumes, Apple Academic Press), Global Biodiversity (4 volumes, Apple Academic Press), and Invasive Alien Species (4 volumes, Wiley Blackwell). He was also a member of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Professor Pullaiah received his PhD from Andhra University, India, attended Moscow State University, Russia, and worked as Post-Doctoral Fellow during 1976-1978.