Biology Seminar Series (Class of '88)- Dr Lorian Schweikert, UNC Wilmington

“Sensory systems to self-driving cars: science at the intersection of mechanism, theory, and opportunity.”

“Bioinspiration” can be defined as the development of novel materials, devices, and strategies inspired by examples found in biological systems. In this presentation, Dr. Schweikert will tell stories about the little-known sensory capabilities of marine animals, how different senses permit survival in the marine world, and what we might stand to gain from their study.

 Dr. Lorian Schweikert is a sensory neuroethologist, who uses integrative approaches to study visual system specialization in the marine world. Lori is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She completed a BSc in Psychology at the University of Tampa, a PhD in Biology at the Florida Institute of Technology, and postdoctoral training at institutions including Duke University, Florida International University, and the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology. Dr. Schweikert’s work has been featured internationally, most recently by outlets that include Scientific American, National Geographic, and The New York Times.