When researchers studied Gila monster venom, they weren’t envisioning GLP-1 drugs or a multi-billion dollar sector improving the lives of hundreds of millions globally. Nature-inspired innovations have created transformative societal and economic impact, and today, advances in biotechnology hold potential for sectors ranging from energy and pharmaceuticals to materials science, chemicals, and manufacturing. Building on the roots of biotechnology to advance synthetic biology, scientists modified yeast with genes from the wormwood plant to mass produce the lifesaving malaria drug artemisinin, transforming a scarce natural remedy into an accessible global health solution. Advancements like the“reprogramming” of organisms to tackle challenges like breaking down waste streams, and the use of microorganisms and enzymes to create bio-based products, demonstrate the potential for moving these biotechnological breakthroughs from basic science to application.

Designed to spark novel ideas and scientific collaborations, Bold Challenges’ Pollination events convene faculty from across campuses to share their work and uncover potential new interdisciplinary research directions, laying the groundwork for competitive research projects. Join the Bold Challenges team in imagining a future built on self-healing concrete, synthetic spider silk proteins stronger than Kevlar, adaptive camouflage, shape-memory medical devices and novel fuel sources that could help extend the life of our infrastructure, strengthen human and planetary health, improve energy efficiency and bolster national security.

The event will be held in the Vandenberg Room in the Michigan League on Friday, April 17, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. This is an in-person event with no hybrid option available. Light breakfast and boxed lunches will be provided. Please register by April 3. Participants will be eligible to apply for $10,000 in seed funding from Bold Challenges.