Caterina Mele

Caterina Mele is an Associate Professor in the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG) at Politecnico di Torino, where she has been a faculty member since 2004, promoted to Associate Professor in 2016. She is actively involved in teaching and research, with affiliations to the Interdepartmental Center R3C (Responsible, Risk Resilience Centre) and the International Biomimicry Network. She contributes to multiple PhD programs and academic boards across Italy and Argentina.

Research Interests: Her work focuses on the sustainable conservation of historic and modern architectural heritage, integrating technological, environmental, and cultural dimensions. She specializes in historic building technology, environmental sustainability, biomimicry, universal design, and climate-resilient urban systems. Her research bridges architectural history, construction technology, and ecological innovation.

The recent publications (2023–2025) reflect a strong trend in heritage conservation, particularly the preservation of color in historic surfaces, urban regeneration of workers’ districts, and the application of Nature-Based Solutions and biomimicry in construction. These works emphasize sustainability, resilience, and interdisciplinary approaches to urban and architectural challenges.

• Scientific Awards and Recognitions
  • Honorary member, ITDAHu - Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Argentina (2019–2030)
  • Effective member, Ar.Tec. - Società scientifica di Architettura Tecnica, Italy (2004–2030)
  • Steering Committee member, Società degli Ingegneri e degli Architetti in Torino (2020–2022)

Advising and Grants: Caterina Mele has served on numerous PhD councils and teaching committees, including at Politecnico di Torino and Sapienza University of Rome. She has led research projects funded by the Ministry of University and Research (MIUR), Compagnia di San Paolo, and the Research Center for Science and Industry in Piedmont (CRISIS). She has coordinated international collaborations, particularly with Argentina, and has been a scientific advisor for regional and EU-funded initiatives like the Corona Verde Strategic Project.

Labs and Research Teams: She is a member of the Interdepartmental Center R3C and the UNIDESIGN Research Group. She leads the Summer School on 'Technologies for Sustainable Construction: The Biomimetic Approach' with Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Argentina. She is also part of the RI3 International Network on Biomimicry and contributes to editorial boards of journals such as Revista de Biomimesis and Studi e Ricerche sul Paesaggio.