Innovating Solutions for Sustainable Futures

Woman standing indoors with abstract art and books on shelves behind her; a decorative plant is visible on the right.

Seasoned expert and global thought leader shaping resilient, nature-inspired solutions for a sustainable future.

Transdisciplinary Expertise: Melissa Sterry’s work spans a broad range of disciplines, including design, systems thinking, ecology, earth sciences, futures, and enterprise. Her ability to integrate insights from these diverse fields allows her to develop innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.

Pioneering Biomimetics and Biodesign: She is particularly known for her pioneering work in biomimicry, ecomimicry, and biodesign, where she applies principles observed in nature to create sustainable systems and technologies. This includes developing architectural and urban designs that mimic natural ecosystems, leading to more resilient and sustainable built environments.

Futures Research: She is deeply involved in futures research, particularly in understanding and preparing for the impact of climate change on human societies. She explores future scenarios to inform better decision-making in the present, emphasising the need for adaptive and anticipatory strategies in sustainability.

Thought Leadership and Public Speaking: As a frequent speaker at global conferences and events, Melissa has a strong influence on the discourse around sustainability innovation. She shares her insights on the future of cities, ecosystems, and technology, inspiring others to think critically and creatively about how to address environmental challenges.

Educational Contributions: Through her role as an educator, Melissa mentors the next generation of innovators, encouraging them to think holistically and adopt a systems-based approach to problem-solving. Her work in academia helps disseminate cutting-edge ideas and practices in sustainability.

Publications and Media Presence: She has contributed to numerous publications, both academic and popular, on topics related to sustainability, design, and the futures. Her thought-provoking articles and interviews have been featured in leading media outlets, further solidifying her status as a global thought leader.

Innovative Projects and Collaborations: Throughout her career, she has led and participated in various innovative projects that push the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable design and technology. Her collaborations often involve working with diverse teams to tackle sustainability challenges in novel ways.

These factors collectively position Melissa as an influential figure in the field of sustainability innovation, with a significant impact on how we envision and create sustainable futures.

Find out more about Melissa Sterry’s experience as a design scientist, biofuturist, serial founder, designer, speaker, and writer at the links below, read her long-form biography here, short form here, and her resume here.

  • Magazine page with articles on technology and workplace design, featuring excerpts from Inside Housing and Raconteur discussing future trends by design scientist Melissa Sterry. Includes an advertisement from The Guardian and an illustration of futuristic workplace.
  • Collage with text about sustainability, featuring images of people in a meeting, pine cones, a woman named Melissa Sterry, and a modern interior space.
  • Presentation slide displaying interconnected words like 'wildfires,' 'drought,' 'flooding,' 'disease,' and 'debris flows,' with a speaker pointing underneath.
  • Screenshot of BBC Radio 4 webpage for the program 'Leonardo's City'. The page features details about Melissa Sterry's exploration of Leonardo Da Vinci's contributions to urban planning and includes an option to listen to the episode. There are links to previous and next episodes titled 'Leonardo's Heart' and 'Leonardo at War'. The show's producers are credited, and the episode is marked as available now, lasting 14 minutes.
  • Presentation slide at a conference titled "Cityx." It includes the text "DAY 1: THE FUTURE OF HOUSING" and "Human Dot to Non-Human Dot: Connecting Human Places to Abiotic and Biotic Systemic Spaces." The name "Melissa Sterry" and the title "Design Scientist and Systems Theorist" are also present.
  • Event poster for "At the Interface: Where Planetary and Human Systems Meet" featuring speakers Melissa Sterry and Alanna Simpson, scheduled for Wednesday, September 19 at 15:30 CET / 9:30 EST, available on Facebook Live. Includes brief bios and photos of the speakers.
  • Person presenting on stage with "Panarchistic Architecture" slide, large "FAB" letters, and modern setup.
  • Educational pamphlet on the Panarchic Codex discussing the adaptive cycle related to wildfires at the wildland-urban interface.
  • Bionic City website homepage featuring text "How would nature design a city?" with descriptors "biomimetics, biotechnology, and biodesign for the built environment."
  • Magazine layout discussing new architectural ideas inspired by ocean life, featuring images of sea creatures, structures, and designs. Headline reads 'Fishing for the New Architectural School.' Text explores self-repairing materials, biomimicry, and sustainable design.
  • Two posters featuring Melissa Sterry and her Bionic City lectures, organized by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and Bartlett Prospective. The posters include images of architectural concepts and text about the lectures from 2011-2014.
  • A magazine spread featuring Dr. Melissa Sterry. Left page shows a black-and-white photo of a woman standing in front of a wall with various artworks. Right page includes text about Dr. Sterry's expertise in future studies, design, and sustainability. Additional text highlights a conversation with GRIHA Council on climate change and urban resilience.
  • Collage featuring images of city lights, blueberries, a rodent, a hurricane, and a volcanic eruption. Text about "The Bionic City" discusses transferring ecosystem knowledge to urban resilience.