The Bioinspired Materials GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

The emerging, interdisciplinary field of bioinspired materials involves developing a fundamental understanding of the structure, properties, and function of naturally occurring materials and using this knowledge to engineer artificial materials that mimic aspects of the living originals. Bio-inspired materials are relevant in various areas of science and technology, and the GRC Bio­in­spired Materials will bring together a diverse population of scientists and researchers to promote the cross-disciplinary fertilization of ideas between fields in which bio-inspired materials play a role. As reflected by the subtitle of the conference – From Self-Assembly to Function – the 2024 meeting will encompass aspects of bio-inspired research ranging from fundamental to application. The talks and discussion will cover a broad range of building blocks of bioinspired materials, the syn­the­sis of bioinspired materials made from or inspired by these building blocks, their self-assembly, their system-level integration to create functional devices, and the application of bio-inspired materials in different domains. The topical areas emphasized in the program include self-assembly; bio-inspired therapeutic materials; tissue-engineering and living materials; and complex materials and systems. The meeting will be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar for graduate students and postdoctoral associates to present their work to each other before the conference.