Biomimetics—learning from Nature for applications in science, engineering, and the arts—can inspire advanced technologies and transformative ideas for education and societal change. This presentation bridges biomimetics and conceptual art by focusing on a little-known natural phenomenon with extraordinary design potential: plant galls.
Galls are intricate structures formed on plants in response to external agents such as insects, bacteria or fungi. Certain wasp species, for example, can selectively reprogram plant tissues using biochemical signals that make the host plant grow a complex, protective nursery for their larvae. These gall structures often feature sophisticated designs: bitter compounds that deter herbivores, exit holes pre-installed for the mature insect, and, in some cases, even ejection mechanisms that launch the gall into the soil, where the transformation to adulthood continues. These processes resemble programmable biofabrication—where genetic and biochemical instructions from one organism guide another to construct a bespoke physical object.
Inspired by these natural marvels, a biomimetic art-education concept designed for middle school students in the field of “Technology and Design” is proposed. The goal is to stimulate young minds to see Nature not merely as scenery or resource, but as a responsive co-designer. Through creative visualizations—such as insects "convincing" plants to grow tiny spaceships or imagining future tools launching from leaf surfaces—we introduce the foundational idea of programmable living materials.
This artistic-conceptual installation and educational framework could ultimately spark ideas for bio-inspired manufacturing of the future: growing tools, furniture or even dwellings from pre-coded seeds. The children would begin to envision a world in which products are not assembled but cultivated—merging design with ecology, and engineering with empathy for life.
The talk will present visual material, theoretical framing and first steps in the pedagogical development of this approach. By integrating science, technology and speculative design, the project invites fresh perspectives on sustainability, biomimetics and the living fabric of the planet as a source of future innovation.
