Peking University, December 18, 2024: Recently, the Sino-German 2024 Workshop on Living Matter and Human-made Machines: Inspiration and Back was successfully held at the Jixian Multi-Function Hall in the Global Village of Peking University. Sponsored by the Sino-German Science Center, the workshop was jointly organized by the Intelligent Bionic Design Laboratory of Peking University, the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, and the University of Konstanz in Germany.
The event featured keynote orations by seven distinguished German scholars and 15 prominent Chinese scholars. Over 40 faculty members and students from institutions such as Peking University, Sun Yat-sen University, China University of Geosciences, and Beijing University of Chemical Technology participated in the event.
The workshop focused on the interdisciplinary frontier between biological groups and intelligent robots, exploring their mutual synergies. On one hand, researchers draw inspiration from nature, mimicking biological traits to create more flexible, efficient, and intelligent robotic systems. On the other hand, advancements in robotics provide innovative tools for biological research, enabling scientists to propose and test new hypotheses about living organisms’ behavior, structure, and functions. This dynamic interaction fosters a virtuous cycle of discovery, driving the two fields forward in a dynamic ascent. The successful conclusion of the workshop has further strengthened Sino-German collaboration in advancing research at the intersection of these fields.
