60
General and Applied Entomology
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
To achieve the expected learning outcomes of the course and the proposed experimental activities, the teaching structure is organized around different components aimed at pursuing the following objectives:
Qualifying educational objectives
The course “Biodesign” aims to develop in students a critical and informed understanding of the relationship between nature and design, promoting an interdisciplinary and systemic approach to the design process.
The objective is to train students to observe, interpret and translate biological and morphological principles into innovative, sustainable, and context-aware design solutions. Emphasis is placed on collaborative work, lateral thinking, experimentation, and the integration of scientific knowledge with aesthetic-formal sensitivity.
Focused study of certain taxonomic groups and their bioecological characteristics will enable students to extend their understanding to a wide range of biological categories.
Specific objectives (related to the course/laboratory theme)
The course focuses on the analysis of biological forms and adaptive processes in nature as sources of inspiration for design.
Students will learn to identify morphological, functional, and structural strategies in biological systems and to consciously translate them into design solutions.
Specific competencies will be acquired in the fields of biomimicry, bio-inspired design, and formal and functional analysis of natural organisms, as well as ecological principles applicable to design.
By the end of the course, students will be able to develop design concepts aligned with the principles of sustainability, efficiency, and innovation inspired by living systems.
In particular, students will develop the ability to examine arthropods in detail, with a special focus on insects as sources of inspiration for design
Course Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for attending the course. However, a basic knowledge of general biology acquired during secondary education is recommended.
In particular, it is useful to be familiar with fundamental concepts such as the structure and function of living organisms, adaptation, evolution, and morphological principles in nature.
The course is structured to provide, through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, all the conceptual and operational tools necessary to support students from both scientific and non-scientific backgrounds, ensuring a gradual and accessible learning path.
Teaching Methods
1_COURSE STRUCTURE AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES
- Lectures (including seminars with guest experts): 48 hours
- Laboratory work and field trip: 12 hours
- Practical activities: 12 hours
- Other: as applicable
Teaching period:Second semester, from February to June (based on the academic calendar)
2_ AUTONOMOUS LEARNING OF THE STUDENT
Independent work is a fundamental component of the course “Biodesign” supporting both the theoretical understanding and the design experimentation required.
Each ECTS credit corresponds to 25 total hours, of which 10 are contact hours (lectures/labs) and 15 are for individual study.
Breakdown of independent study activities:
- Theoretical study and bibliographic review (6 hours/ECTS)
- Individual study of teaching materials provided (slides, scientific articles, essays, reference texts on biomimetics, natural morphogenesis, and bio-inspired design)
- In-depth understanding of core biological principles (adaptation, efficiency, symmetry, self-organization, structural strategies in nature)
- Analysis of case studies demonstrating the application of biological principles in design
- Design experimentation and personal development (5 hours/ECTS)
- Visual and morphological research on natural organisms (e.g., arthropods, shells, plants, bones, fractal patterns)
- Independent development of sketches, conceptual maps, mock-ups, digital or physical models of bio-inspired solutions
- Documentation of experimental processes through concept boards or sketchbooks
- Optional tests using natural or recycled materials
- Preparation for final assessment (4 hours/ECTS)
- Review and organization of all materials produced (sketches, design documents, research, prototypes)
- Drafting of a final concept book or projects/portfolio that summarizes biological references, design processes, and formal solutions
- Optional preparation of the oral presentation following instructor guidelines
Assessment Methods
The final exam will take place on the assigned date according to the academic calendar.
Assessment format: Theory / Practical
The exam will consist of an oral examination divided into two parts:
1. Theoretical questions, covering the contents explored during lectures (morphologies, biological systems, forms, adaptive strategies, morphological principles, and biomimicry)
2. Individual project presentation, developed on one of the course themes, with optional visual support (portfolio, concept book, model, etc.), explaining the research process, biological inspiration, and design choices.
Duration: approximately 40–50 minutes total.
Texts
Teaching materials will be provided by the instructor throughout the course and will include:
- Lecture slides
- Visual and graphic support materials (images, diagrams, summary sheets)
- Selected articles and introductory readings on course topics
For in-depth study, a specialized bibliography will be made available, derived from current research in the field of biomimicry applied to design, including updated references to scientific studies, bio-inspired projects, and international case studies.
Materials will include scientific publications, academic texts, manuals on natural morphology, and key texts on systemic and sustainable design.
Students are encouraged to use the materials not only for study but also for developing their individual projects and for exploring interdisciplinary connections between biology, natural sciences, and design.
Contents
1_DESCRIPTION
The course explores the forms, structures, and adaptive strategies of living organisms, with a particular focus on arthropods, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, in order to provide cultural and scientific tools for bio-inspired design.
Topics such as biomimetics, ecology applied to design, symbiosis, mimicry, and functional forms in relation to environmental contexts will be addressed.
In addition to lectures, the course includes laboratory activities at the LEEA (Laboratory of Entomology and Applied Ecology). During these sessions, students will engage directly with living organisms and will carry out detailed morphological analysis, especially of arthropods and other life forms.
Depending on availability, guided field trips will also be organized to the Aspromonte National Park, offering opportunities to observe concrete examples of morphological-functional adaptations and ecological relationships.
2_COURSE PROGRAMME
The course focuses on the study of biological forms and functions in relation to the natural environment and their application potential in design. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will acquire the tools to interpret biological systems as models for the development of sustainable and bio-inspired design solutions.
Course contents include:
- Biological systems and design: general principles of biomimetics and bio-design; nature as model; examples of adaptive models.
- Forms and functions in living systems: morphological, functional, and ecological analysis with selected case studies.
- Arthropods: external structures, limbs, appendages, exoskeletons, and functional adaptations.
- Post-embryonic development, metamorphosis, systematics, and ecology of arthropods.
- Other taxonomic groups: insects, vertebrates, aquatic organisms and their morpho-functional strategies.
- Plant structures: leaves, roots, transport systems, pollination, seeds, and dispersal models.
- Microstructures and invisible organisms: fungi, bacteria, microorganisms and their application in material design.
- Biomimicry: examples of functional transfer from nature to design (materials, architecture, textiles).
- Symbiosis, mimicry, cooperation, parasitism: ecological relationships and design insights.
- Bioforms and environment: analysis of the link between biological form and environmental parameters.
- Applied ecology in design: sustainability, resilience, adaptability.
- Foundations of biodesign: between research, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
The course includes guest lectures by specialists and project analysis activities based on bio-inspired examples.
Annual Theme: Bio-inspired methodologies for sustainable design.
Main disciplinary references: Zoology, Entomology, Botany, Ecology, Microbiology, Biomimetics.
Interdisciplinary references: Material science, Architecture, Industrial Design, Environmental Engineering.
Course connections:
- LEEA – Laboratory of Entomology and Applied Ecology: morphological analysis of arthropod adaptations, fieldwork protocols for habitat assessment.
Field trip: Aspromonte National Park – hands-on observation of ecological interactions.
3_EXPECTED RESULTS
Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge of the diversity of biological systems and their functional organization; ability to identify forms, structures, and functions.
- Understanding of the principles of biomimicry and biodesign applied to design.
- Awareness of the ecological importance of different taxa for environmental conservation.
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Ability to apply strategies observed in nature to the development of design concepts.
- Application of specific design skills to ecological and biological contexts.
- Critical analysis of bio-inspired design examples.
Autonomy of judgment
- Evaluation of the consistency between biological solutions and design contexts.
- Independent selection of relevant natural models.
Communication skills
- Clear communication of scientific references and design choices.
- Use of technical and visual language to present bio-inspired projects.
Learning skills
- Ability to research, deepen, and reinterpret biological content from a design perspective.
- Integration of scientific and creative sources in a cross-disciplinary manner.