Join Professor Michelle Barbour in this captivating conversation with Professor Marc Holderied from the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences. Discover how a serendipitous encounter with a fluffy moth in Costa Rica sparked a 30-year scientific journey that led to the development of ultra-thin, nature-inspired sound-absorbing materials.  

🎙️ In this episode follow Marc’s path to Bristol and his passion for acoustics including:

• Fascinating collaborations with Bristol Zoo, including the discovery of a new frog species and a mysterious bat call  
• The groundbreaking invention of an acoustic tomograph  
• How moth wings inspired the creation of acoustic metamaterials  
• Finding real-world applications from the study of moth wings from noise-reducing wallpaper to quieter aircraft cabins  
• A dream to reduce the hidden health costs of urban noise pollution  

Read his original research article : https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2313549121

⭐Highlights 

0:00 – Introducing the Enterprise Sessions and Professor Marc Holderied 

0:34 – Marc’s journey to Bristol 

2:22 – Discovering new species of frogs and bats with Bristol Zoo 

4:41 – How shaving a moth’s wings led to an enterprise opportunity 

7:49 – How moths evolved an acoustic invisibility cloak to evade bats  

13:01 – From research to enterprise: developing acoustic wallpaper and ultra-thin sound absorbers 

16:46 – The societal impacts of noise pollution 

21:48 – The role Enterprise Fellowships and the University of Bristol’s Commercialisation team and others in going from research to enterprise 

🌐 About the Enterprise Sessions

The Enterprise Sessions bring together a diverse mix of company founders and researchers who talk openly about their personal experiences of forming spin-outs and start-ups, raising capital, academic-industry partnerships and the joys of translating research discoveries into real-world impact.

The series aims to inform, inspire and challenge myths and stereotypes about research commercialisation and how businesses and universities can work together to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

👍 Like, Share, Subscribe, Explore

If you found this episode inspiring or informative, please don’t forget to like and share. Visit our website or subscribe to the University of Bristol’s YouTube channel for more Enterprise Sessions.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/enterprise-sessions

🔗 Connect with 

Marc Holderied https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-holderied/  

Michele Barbour https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-barbour-7b049566/