People
Dr. Olga Speck
Principal Investigator Research Areas C and D
Scientific Coordinator, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT)
Group Leader, Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden
University of Freiburg
Phone: +49 761 203 2803 | +49 761 203 90576
Email: olga.speck@biologie.uni-freiburg.de
Areas of Expertise
Self-repairing materials | Self-adaptive materials | Composite materials | Functional anatomy and biomechanics of plants | Biomimetics and sustainable technology development | Education and training in the field of biomimetics
Projects within livMatS
- The mistletoe-host interface as model for long-term integrity by damage prevention and repair
- Abscission and self-repair in biological and artificial materials systems
- Training and self-healing by interface snapping mechanisms
- livMatS as part of and reaction to the Anthropocene: Sustainability assessement and investigation of psychological and philosophical implications of living materials systems
- Twist-to-bend ratios of petioles and transition zones with different shapes and tapering modes (compact project 2020)
Completed Doctoral Researchers (first supervisor)
Publications in livMatS
- Sustainability assessments inspired by biological concepts*
Möller, M., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2024). Sustainability assessments inspired by biological concepts. Technology in Society, 78, 102630. doi: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102630 - Bio-Inspired Pressure-Dependent Programmable Mechanical Metamaterial with Self-Sealing Ability*
Ghavidelnia, N., Slesarenko, V., Speck, O., Eberl, C. (2024). Bio-Inspired Pressure-Dependent Programmable Mechanical Metamaterial with Self-Sealing Ability. Advanced Materials, 2313125. doi: 10.1002/adma.202313125 - The Basics of Evolution Strategies: The Implementation of the Biomimetic Optimization Method in Educational Modules*
Speck, O., Speck, T., Baur, S., & Herdy, M. (2024). The Basics of Evolution Strategies: The Implementation of the Biomimetic Optimization Method in Educational Modules. Biomimetics, 9(7), 439. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics9070439 - Is a Forest Fire a Natural Disaster? Investigating the Fire Tolerance of Various Tree Species—An Educational Module*
Speck, O., Speck, T. (2024): Is a Forest Fire a Natural Disaster? Investigating the Fire Tolerance of Various Tree Species—An Educational Module. Biomimetics 2024, 9(2): 114. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics9020114 - Flow charts as a method to transfer self-sealing from plant models into programmable materials and related challenges*
Cao, B., Ghavidelnia, N., Speck, O., & Eberl, C. (2023). Flow charts as a method to transfer self-sealing from plant models into programmable materials and related challenges. Programmable Materials, 1, e12. doi: 10.1017/pma.2023.11 - Biomimetics in Botanical Gardens—Educational Trails and Guided Tours*
Speck, O., Speck, T. (2023). Biomimetics in Botanical Gardens—Educational Trails and Guided Tours. Biomimetics, 8(3), 303. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics8030303 - Editorial: Damage control of plants—from the molecule to the entire plant*
Speck, O., Taylor, D., and Speck, T. (2023). Editorial: Damage control of plants—from the molecule to the entire plant. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14:1181342. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1181342 - Longevity of System Functions in Biology and Biomimetics: A Matter of Robustness and Resilience*
Mylo, M.D., Speck, O. (2023): Longevity of System Functions in Biology and Biomimetics: A Matter of Robustness and Resilience. Biomimetics 8(2): 173. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics8020173 - Conjoining Trees for the Provision of Living Architecture in Future Cities: A Long-Term Inosculation Study*
Mylo, M. D., Ludwig, F., Rahman, M. A., Shu, Q., Fleckenstein, C., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2023). Conjoining Trees for the Provision of Living Architecture in Future Cities: A Long-Term Inosculation Study. Plants, 12(6), 1385. doi: 10.3390/plants12061385 - Plants as inspiration for material-based sensing and actuation in soft robots and machines*
Speck, T., Cheng, T., Klimm, F., Menges, A., Poppinga, S., Speck, O., Tahouni, Y., Tauber, F. & Thielen, M. (2023) Plants as inspiration for material-based sensing and actuation in soft robots and machines. MRS Bulletin 48,730 – 745. doi: 10.1557/s43577-022-00470-8 - Learning from Self-Sealing Deformations of Plant Leaves: The Biomimetic Multilayer Actuator*
Becker, J., Speck, O., Speck, T., Müller, C. (2022). Learning from self-sealing deformations of plant leaves: the biomimetic multilayer actuator. Advanced Intelligent System, 2200215. doi: 10.1002/aisy.202200215 - Elastic property and fracture mechanics of lateral branch-branch junctions in cacti: A case study of Opuntia ficus-indica and Cylindropuntia bigelovii*
Mylo, M. D., Hoppe, A., Pastewka, L., Speck, T., & Speck, O. Elastic properties and fracture mechanics of lateral branch-branch junctions in cacti: a case study of Opuntia ficus-indica and Cylindropuntia bigelovii. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2947. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.950860 - Biological Concepts as a Source of Inspiration for Efficiency, Consistency, and Sufficiency*
Speck, O., Möller, M., Grießhammer, R., Speck, T. (2022). Biological concepts as a source of inspiration for efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency. Sustainability, 14: 8892. doi: 10.3390/su14148892 - Charting the twist-to-bend ratio of plant axes*
Wolff-Vorbeck, S., Speck, O., Langer, M., Speck, T., & Dondl, P. W. (2022). Charting the twist-to-bend ratio of plant axes. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 19(191), 20220131. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0131 - Biomechanics of the parasite–host interaction of the European mistletoe*
Mylo, M. D., Hoffmann, M., Balle, F., Beisel, S., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2022). Biomechanics of the parasite–host interaction of the European mistletoe. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73(4): 1204 – 1221. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erab518 (Special issue “Mechanical Ecology - Taking Biomechanics to the Field”) - Acclimation to wind loads and/or contact stimuli? A biomechanical study of peltate leaves of Pilea peperomioides*
Langer, M., Hegge, E., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2022). Acclimation to wind loads and/or contact stimuli? A biomechanical study of peltate leaves of Pilea peperomioides. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73(4): 1236 – 1252. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erab541 (Special issue “Mechanical Ecology - Taking Biomechanics to the Field”) - Twist-to-Bend Ratios and Safety Factors of Petioles Having Various Geometries, Sizes and Shapes*
Langer, M., Kelbel, M. C., Speck, T., Müller, C., & Speck, O. (2021) Twist-to-bend ratios and safety factors of petioles having various geometries, sizes and shapes. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2586. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.765605 - Influence of structural reinforcements on the twist-to-bend ratio of plant axes: a case study on Carex pendula*
Wolff-Vorbeck, S., Speck, O., Speck, T., & Dondl, P. W. (2021). Influence of structural reinforcements on the twist-to-bend ratio of plant axes: a case study on Carex pendula. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00569-z - Morphology and Anatomy of Branch–Branch Junctions in Opuntia ficus-indica and Cylindropuntia bigelovii: A Comparative Study Supported by Mechanical Tissue Quantification*
Mylo, M. D., Hesse, L., Masselter, T., Leupold, J., Drozella, K., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2021). Morphology and Anatomy of Branch–Branch Junctions in Opuntia ficus-indica and Cylindropuntia bigelovii: A Comparative Study Supported by Mechanical Tissue Quantification. Plants, 10(11), 2313. doi: 10.3390/plants10112313 - Bridging the Gap: From Biomechanics and Functional Morphology of Plants to Biomimetic Developments*
Speck, O., & Speck, T. (2021). Bridging the Gap: From Biomechanics and Functional Morphology of Plants to Biomimetic Developments. Biomimetics. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics6040060 - Bio-inspired life-like motile materials systems: Changing the boundaries between living and technical systems in the Anthropocene*
Speck, T., Poppinga, S., Speck, O., & Tauber, F. (2021). Bio-inspired life-like motile materials systems: Changing the boundaries between living and technical systems in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene Review, 20530196211039275. doi: 10.1177/20530196211039275 - Advances on the Visualization of the Internal Structures of the European Mistletoe: 3D Reconstruction Using Microtomography*
Mylo, M. D., Hofmann, M., Delp, A., Scholz, R., Walther, F., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2021). Advances on the visualization of the internal structures of the European mistletoe: 3D reconstruction using microtomography. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2085. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.715711 - Biomimetics and Education in Europe: Challenge, Opportunity and Variety*
Speck, O., Speck, T. (2021): Biomimetics and Education in Europe: Challenge, Opportunity and Variety. Biomimetics, 6(3): 49; Special Issue "Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy". doi: 10.3390/biomimetics6030049
Editor's Choice - Self-Actuated Paper and Wood Models: Low-Cost Handcrafted Biomimetic Compliant Systems for Research and Teaching*
Poppinga, S., Schenck, P., Speck, O., Speck, T., Bruchmann, B., Masselter, T. (2021) Self-Actuated Paper and Wood Models: Low-Cost Handcrafted Biomimetic Compliant Systems for Research and Teaching. Biomimetics, 6(3):42. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics6030042
Editor's Choice - Plant-inspired damage control – An inspiration for sustainable solutions in the Anthropocene*
Speck, O., Langer, M., & Mylo, M. D. (2021). Plant-inspired damage control–An inspiration for sustainable solutions in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene Review. doi: 10.1177/20530196211018489 - 3D Reticulated Actuator Inspired by Plant Up-Righting Movement Through a Cortical Fiber Network*
Masselter, T., Speck, O., & Speck, T.(2021). 3D Reticulated Actuator Inspired by Plant Up-Righting Movement Through a Cortical Fiber Network. Biomimetics 6(2). doi: 10.3390/biomimetics6020033 - Functional morphology of plants – a key to biomimetic applications*
Speck, O., & Speck, T. (2021). Functional morphology of plants–a key to biomimetic applications. New Phytologist. doi: 10.1111/nph.17396 - Petiole-Lamina Transition Zone: A Functionally Crucial but Often Overlooked Leaf Trait*
Langer, M., Speck, T., Speck, O. (2021): Petiole-lamina transition zone: A functionally crucial but often overlooked leaf trait. Plants 10(4): 774. doi: 10.3390/plants10040774 - Failure mechanisms and bending strength of Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis stems*
Hone, T., Mylo, M. D., Speck, O., Speck, T., Taylor, D. (2021): Failure mechanisms and bending strength of Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis stems. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 18: 20201023. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.1023 - Reactions of sciences to the Anthropocene: Highlighting inter- and transdisciplinary practices in biomimetics and sustainability research*
Möller, M., Höfele, P., Kiesel, A., Speck, O. (2021): Reactions of sciences to the Anthropocene: Highlighting inter- and transdisciplinary practices in biomimetics and sustainability research. Elementa Science of the Anthropocene 9(1). doi: 10.1525/elementa.2021.035 - Peak values of twist-to-bend ratio in triangular flower stalks of Carex pendula: a study on biomechanics and functional morphology*
Speck, O., Steinhart, F., & Speck, T. (2020). Peak values of twist-to-bend ratio in triangular flower stalks of Carex pendula: a study on biomechanics and functional morphology. American Journal of Botany 107(11): 1–9. doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1558 - Comparative analyses of the self-sealing mechanisms in leaves of Delosperma cooperi and Delosperma ecklonis (Aizoaceae)*
Hesse, L., Kampowski, T., Leupold, J., Caliaro, S., Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2020). Comparative Analyses of the Self-Sealing Mechanisms in Leaves of Delosperma cooperi and Delosperma ecklonis (Aizoaceae). International journal of molecular sciences, 21(16), 5768. doi:10.3390/ijms21165768 (Special Issue: Plant Biomechanics) - Self-repair in cacti branches: comparative analyses of their morphology, anatomy and biomechanics*
Mylo, M. D., Krüger, F., Speck, T., & Speck, O.. (2020). Self-Repair in Cacti Branches: Comparative Analyses of Their Morphology, Anatomy, and Biomechanics. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(13), 4630. doi:10.3390/ijms21134630 (Special Issue: Plant Biomechanics) - Wound reactions in stems of Leonurus cardiaca: A morphological, anatomical and biomechanical study
Speck, O., Schmauder, K., Speck, T., & Paul-Victor, C. (2020). Wound reactions in stems of Leonurus cardiaca: a morphological, anatomical, and biomechanical study. Botany, 98(1), 81-89., doi: 10.1139/cjb-2019-0002 - Twist-to-bend ratio: an important selective factor for many rod-shaped biological structures*
Wolff-Vorbeck, S., Langer, M., Speck, O., Speck, T., & Dondl, P. (2019). Twist-to-bend ratio: an important selective factor for many rod-shaped biological structures. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-52878-z - Quo vadis plant biomechanics: Old wine in new bottles or an up-and-coming field of modern plant science?*
Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2019). Quo vadis plant biomechanics: Old wine in new bottles or an up‐and‐coming field of modern plant science?. American Journal of Botany, 106(11), 1399-1403. doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1371. - An Overview of Bioinspired and Biomimetic Self-Repairing Materials*
Speck, O., Speck, T. (2019). An overview of bioinspired and biomimetic self-repairing materials. Biomimetics, 4(1), 26. doi: 10.33.90/biomimetics4010026 - Emergence in Biomimetic Materials Systems
Speck, T., & Speck, O. (2019). Emergence in biomimetic materials systems. In Emergence and modularity in life sciences (pp. 97-115). Springer, Cham.
* Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy – EXC-2193/1 – 390951807