About the author…
Dr. Sterry presenting the closing keynote at the Understanding Risk Balkans Conference in Belgrade, Serbia, September 2018, produced by the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery [GFDRR].
Design scientist and systems theorist Melissa Sterry, PhD is recognised as a world-leading authority on the science, technology and thinking that could help humanity to build a brighter future. A design practice; enterprise and innovation; and transdisciplinary science graduate, her career has been spent working with leading-edge ideas, individuals, and institutions worldwide. A recipient of several national and international innovation, creativity and enterprise awards, including the Mensa Education and Research Foundation International Award for enhancing intelligence that benefits society, she is listed in the 'Libertine 100’ women with complex, beautiful and potentially world-changing ideas.
Melissa is the founder/director of Bionic City® [Est. 2010], of London-based biofuturism consultancy Bioratorium® [Est. 2019], and its lab Labioratorium®. A chartered scientist with the Science Council and fellow of the Institute of Science and Technology, of the Design Research Society, and of the Royal Society of Arts, her present and past academic activities include visiting lecturer, visiting fellow, workshop host, Masters thesis supervisor, assembly member, guest critic and external examiner at several leading architecture and design research institutes, including The Bartlett [UCL], University of Innsbruck, Ravensbourne, University of the Arts London, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, AA School of Architecture, and University of Salford, amongst others. She has delivered over one hundred keynotes at leading conferences, symposiums, and other gatherings for wide-ranging corporate, public sector, and non-government organisations worldwide. Her voluntary commitments include guest professor with Professors Without Borders and guest scientist with Lecturers Without Borders.
Melissa is published in 60+ international scientific, industry and consumer journals, magazines, books, reports, and white papers including the Global Innovation Science Handbook, for which she authored the chapter on Biomimetics, and The Routledge Companion to Ecological Design Thinking, for which she authored the chapter on designing to create architectural and urban resilience to wildfire. She has contributed as a scientific committee member, peer-reviewer, editorial board member, juror, and guest curator to several leading scientific, sustainability, built environment, and design journals, conferences, societies, and awards worldwide. Her previous works include founding the award-winning sustainability think tank and collaborative laboratory Societás [2004 - 2010]; co-founding award-winning catalyst for rapid innovation in sustainable design for the built environment, New Frontiers [2009 - 2010]; and co-founding the world’s first online visual arts awards, the Creative Graduate Prize [2004-2010] and the Iconique Societás Awards [2007-2010].