'Curious Conversations' podcast: Jonas Hauptman talks about building better with bamboo

Jonas Hauptman joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about his extensive work researching bamboo as a sustainable building material. He shared his journey into nontraditional materials, the challenges of using bamboo in construction, and the potential impact of bamboo might have in addressing global housing shortages.

“Curious Conversations” is available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. 

Takeaways

Bamboo is abundant and self-regenerating, making it a viable alternative to concrete and steel, the dominant building materials in many regions of the world.

A primary challenge to creating a scalable bamboo construction system is the variability of each piece of bamboo’s size and shape.

Hauptman has been working with colleagues and students to develop MassBu, a system that utilizes lightly modified bamboo culms to create laminated structural panels and beams. This system aims to enhance bamboo’s structural capabilities and versatility in construction.

About Hauptman

Hauptman is an associate professor of industrial design at the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design as well as the co-founder and co-leader of the Bio Design Research Group. He is also a fellow of the Institute for Creativity and Innovation, which has supported his bio-inspired design research multiple projects.

Learn more

National Academy of Inventors names seven senior members

Students explore bamboo’s potential for sustainable housing in Ecuador

Research into bamboo shows a sustainable and natural raw building material

About the podcast

"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.