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TRIANT

Rosa Zaunberger Melo

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My work is grounded in the belief that design should serve both people and the planet. I am using a wide range of media and materials to explore the best solutions for a challenge. I am looking at nature as a source of inspiration for designs that work within the planetary boundaries. Driven by curiosity and a deep respect for the natural world, I believe every project is an opportunity to contribute positively and thoughtfully! 

My work is grounded in the belief that design should serve both people and the planet. I am using...

Due to climate change, we are experiencing more and more heatwaves, with temperatures reaching concerning levels in environments that are not equipped for such challenges. What if we could turn to nature for solutions? Learn from organisms that evolved in extreme environments. Cataglyphis bombycina, the Saharan silver ant, is one of the few organisms able to forage under peak desert heat, avoiding predators that retreat into the shade. Its secret lies in a dense array of triangular, hairlike structures covering the ant's body that reflect solar radiation and reduce heat absorption. 

Inspired by this fascinating adaptation, Triant is a research project that explores how bioinspired materials and micro-fabrication technologies can help us develop passive thermal shielding systems for human environments. By studying the ant’s microstructures, the project seeks to translate natural innovation into sustainable, heat-resistant solutions for our built world.

A special thank you to Serge Aron, Priscilla Simonis, Alisha Hunter, and Dr.Florent Seichepine for their invaluable support and collaboration throughout this project.

Final work

Imprinted Chitosan Material

IMPRINTED CHITOSAN MATERIAL [250μm grooves]

This chitosan imprinted material features microscale surface structuring achieved through femtosecond laser processing moulds [Femtosecond micromachining laser - Bionanofabrication core facility]. Originally designed to mimic thermoregulating and light-scattering properties found in nature, the material exhibits enhanced optical behavior due to precisely patterned features.

Imprinted Chitosan Material (150μm grooves) showing structural colours.

IMPRINTED CHITOSAN MATERIAL [150μm grooves]

On this second imprinted sample, structural colors become visible, revealing the interaction between light and the engineered microstructures. These colours result from interference effects, demonstrating how the patterned chitosan surface manipulates light at the microscale.

Metal mould (25μm) showcasing structural colours

METAL MOULD [25μm]

Some of the metal moulds with microscale grooves exhibit the formation of structural colours, as seen in this example. Engraved using the femtosecond laser [Femtosecond micromachining laser - Bionanofabrication core facility]. These mould were then used to imprint the microstructure onto the chitosan based material.

Research and process

Saharan silver ant

NATURE'S STRATEGY: THE SAHARAN SILVER ANT

The Saharan Silver Ant, also known as Cataglyphis bombycina, is an ant that can be found in the Sahara Desert. This ant is capable of foraging during the hottest parts of the day when most predators retreat to the shade.

The ant’s body is covered in hairlike structure that scatter and reflect sunlight, helping to keep it cool.

Microscopic image of isolated ant hairs

MICROSCOPIC IMAGE OF ISOLATED ANT HAIRS

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TRIANT

Due to climate change, we are experiencing more and more heatwaves, with temperatures reaching concerning levels in environments that are not equipped for such challenges. What if we could turn to nature for solutions? Learn from organisms that evolved in extreme envir...

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