Honors Program Library Series: Exploring Science with the BID4R Lab

On October 30th, Dr. Bryan Watson presented “Leveraging Biologically Inspired Design to Improve System Resilience” as part of the Honors Program Library Series. The talk introduced the Biologically Inspired Design-for-Resilience (BID4R) Lab’s approach to engineering resilience through insights from natural systems. Dr. Watson discussed how biological strategies—such as those used by eusocial insects, turtles, and sandpipers—can inform the design of robust, fault-tolerant engineering systems. The presentation highlighted ongoing undergraduate-led research, including swarm optimization, resource allocation, and consensus algorithms inspired by ecological behaviors. The discussion also challenged students to get involved with undergraduate research early and provided examples of recent work done by ERAU undergraduates. Open Q&A afterwards focused on practical tips to approach writing as well challenges in research. The event underscored the Lab’s mission to translate nature’s resilience into practical engineering methods for cyber-physical systems and system-of-systems design.