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- 1. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org BIOMIMICRY A bite-sized introduction Lesson 1: Introduction to Biomimicry
- 2. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org What is biomimicry? Bios = the living world + Mimicry = to emulate Biomimicry is a method engineers and designers use for creating innovation, by looking to the natural world for ideas. Mateus S. Figueiredo CC by 4.0 Florida Fish and Wildlife CC by 2.0 2
- 3. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org What is biomimicry? For example, researchers studied how geckos climb walls and developed materials that mimic the microscopic structures of gecko feet. 3
- 4. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Terms and definitions Biomimicry Bio-inspired (design) Biomimetics Bio-design Biomimicry tends to focus on nature-inspired innovation that improves the sustainability of human existence and supports the planet as a whole. These all mean innovation inspired by nature. 4
- 5. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Terms and definitions Biomorphism - looking like something in nature – is not biomimicry. Biomimicry is learning from functional design in nature and applying it to human innovation. 5
- 6. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Terms and definitions Bioutilization – using something from nature – is not biomimicry either. 6
- 7. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Terms and definitions Biomimics - people who use or practice biomimicry - get ideas from biological structures (forms), processes and systems. 7
- 8. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating biological structures Biological structures are the easiest aspect of the natural world to recognize. Biological structures are everywhere, at both microscopic and macroscopic scales.. 8
- 9. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating biological structures Biological structures accomplish many things, so there is a lot to learn from these structures to inform human designs. 9
- 10. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating biological structures For example, biomimics have emulated the microscopic structures on leaves to create more sustainable hydrophobic (water repellent) surfaces, e.g. on fabric. Before this, the primary way hydrophobic surfaces were created used toxic chemicals. William Thielicke CC by SA 2.5 10
- 11. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating biological processes The living world demonstrates many kinds of biological processes. Examples include photosynthesis and the process by which ants work together to find food. 11
- 12. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating biological processes Humans can learn from and borrow ideas from biological processes. • Studying photosynthesis has improved how some types of solar cells work. • Studying how ants work together to find food has lead to software programs that can route delivery trucks more efficiently, helping save time, money, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 12
- 13. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating ecological systems Most manufacturing systems designed by people create a lot of waste in the process of production. These systems are “linear” in the sense that raw materials go into production and waste comes out. 13
- 14. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating ecological systems Ecological systems are characterized by having high and sustained diversity and production, despite having low amounts of nutrients flowing through them. They achieve this by efficiently transferring nutrients through food chains, i.e., there is no waste (waste = food). 14
- 15. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating ecological systems One way humans can emulate ecological systems is by doing things like recycling high-value materials, designing things to be easily recyclable, and designing things to be easily disassembled and biodegradable. Loozrboy CC by SA 2.0 15
- 16. Biomimicry.org | AskNature.org Emulating ecological systems Humans can also emulate ecological systems by using the waste from one manufacturing process as the input for another manufacturing process. 16
Editor's Notes
- More info: https://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_s_surprising_lessons_from_nature_s_engineers?language=en https://www.amazon.com/Biomimicry-Innovation-Inspired-Janine-Benyus/dp/0060533226 Microscope: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biologist_using_inverted_microscope_04.jpg Bird: https://www.nps.gov/rlc/murie/research-grants.htm Turtle: https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/27787967179 Fish: https://origin-apps-pifsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/cred/survey_methods.php
- More info: https://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/november/gecko-inspired-device-112114.html Climbing: https://pixabay.com/photos/people-man-guy-climbing-mountain-2572126/ Gecko: https://pixabay.com/photos/gecko-hand-sticky-nature-reptile-800887/
- There are many different terms that refer to innovation inspired by Nature. They have different etymologies (word histories) and are used in slightly differing contexts, but they all mean essentially the same thing. Biomimicry tends to focus on Nature-inspired innovations that improve the sustainability of human existence and supports the planet as a whole. Discussion: Why is it useful to know all these different terms? If you search the internet using one of these terms, will you get all the information you would get if you searched the internet using all of these different terms?
- Biomorphism - looking like something in nature – is not biomimicry. Biomimicry is learning from functional design in nature and applying it to human innovation. Innovations inspired by nature may or may not end up looking like the thing that inspired them. Discussion: What do we mean by “functional design”? Functional design is design that improves how something performs. This stadium is known as the “Bird’s Nest Stadium,” but it doesn’t operate any better because it looks like a bird’s nest. Does this car go any faster just because it has flames painted on it? Bird nest stadium: https://pixabay.com/photos/stadium-birds-nest-olympic-stadium-3436061/ Car: https://pixabay.com/photos/vintage-car-white-background-hot-rod-3413555
- Simply using something from nature is not biomimicry (that’s “bioutilization”). Biomimicry is learning from nature and applying the ideas this evokes to human innovation. Innovations inspired by nature may or may not end up using organic material in a design. Discussion: Simply using feathers for insulation in a jacket is not biomimicry. What matters is that something in nature gives an inventor an idea for how to improve the design of what people make, , such as studying downy feather structure to create better insulation materials. Feathers: https://pixabay.com/vectors/feather-blue-falling-plume-flight-1689331/
- Biomimics - people who use or practice biomimicry - can get ideas from anything in nature. Biomimics get ideas from biological structures (forms), processes and systems. Plant in sidewalk: https://pixabay.com/photos/weed-stone-away-plant-sidewalk-2525923/ Heron: https://pixabay.com/photos/heron-egret-landscape-feathers-5394026/
- Biological structures are the easiest aspect of the natural world to recognize. Biological structures are everywhere, at both microscopic and macroscopic scales. Discussion questions: What do we mean by “structures”? What biological structures can you think of? What biological structures can you see right now? Shapes, textures, and mechanisms are all clearly structures. Here, we mean “structures” in its broadest sense. Can you think of any biological structures that are invisible? (e.g., microscopic phenomena). (What about biological behaviors, like bird calls? These are not physical structures, perhaps, but biomimics can also draw ideas from biological behaviors.) Hand: https://pixabay.com/photos/girl-woman-model-fashion-black-2755611/ Dog nose: https://pixabay.com/photos/nose-dog-fur-macro-details-4420535/ Leaf microscopic: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leaf_epidermis.jpg Plant: https://pixabay.com/photos/leaf-giant-rhubarb-mammoth-sheet-3504797/
- Biological structures accomplish many things, so there is a lot to learn from these structures to inform human designs. What creates biological structures? (Natural selection.) Why does natural selection tend to create things that perform well? How does this relate to why looking to nature for ideas might be a good idea for inventors? What do we mean when we say that nature is optimized? [If students ask about God, note that it would also make sense to look to nature to improve our technologies and designs if a supernatural entity created nature. However, the role of science is not to explore the supernatural.] Robotic hand: https://pixabay.com/photos/connection-hand-human-robot-touch-3308188/ Airplane: https://pixabay.com/photos/aircraft-landing-airport-boing-3702676/ Bird: https://pixabay.com/photos/hummingbird-bird-trochilidae-flying-2139279
- For example, biomimics have emulated the microscopic structures on leaves to create more sustainable hydrophobic (water-repellent) surfaces, e.g. on fabric. Before this, the primary way hydrophobic surfaces were created was through using highly toxic chemicals. More info: https://earthjustice.org/features/breaking-down-toxic-pfas Lotus: https://pixabay.com/photos/lotus-leaf-water-drop-lotus-water-2420205/ Leaf microscopic: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lotus2mq.jpg Fabric: https://pixabay.com/photos/fabric-drop-of-water-drops-of-water-584159/
- The living world demonstrates many kinds of biological processes, where characteristic sequences of interacting parts occur. Examples include photosynthesis (in which plants combine CO2 and water using sunlight to create sugars, cellulose, etc.) and the process by which ants work together to find food. Discussion questions: How is a biological process different than a biological structure? (Processes involve sequences of events, involving the element of time) Leaves: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-leaf-leaf-sun-through-leaf-1666166/ Ants: http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/10078
- Humans can learn from and borrow ideas from biological processes. For instance, by studying photosynthesis people have improved how some types of solar cells work. And by studying how ants work together to find food, computer scientists have written software programs that can route delivery trucks more efficiently, helping save time and money, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Can you think of other biological processes? (The physical development of an organism, ecological succession, nitrogen fixation in soil, water purification, etc.) Discussion questions: How is a biological process different than a biological structure? (Processes involve sequences of events, involving the element of time) Solar cell: https://pixabay.com/photos/fog-forest-glade-hut-beehive-1923403/ Trucks: https://pixabay.com/photos/highway-road-truck-vehicles-3392100
- Discussion questions: Can you think of any “linear” production systems? Look around and think about how something you can see is produced. What raw materials are used? What waste is created? (there can be solid, liquid, or gaseous waste) What’s wrong with having “linear” production systems? What problems result? Are linear production systems sustainable? Why/why not? Pump jack: https://pixabay.com/photos/oil-pump-jack-sunset-clouds-1407715/ Cups: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=3924&picture=plastic-cups Cup on beach: https://pixabay.com/photos/plastic-waste-cup-environment-waste-4236374/
- An ecological system, or ecosystem, is a system consisting of biotic and abiotic components functioning together as a unit. Ecological systems are characterized by having high and sustained diversity and production, despite having low amounts of nutrients flowing through them. They achieve this by efficiently transferring nutrients through food chains, i.e., there is no waste (waste = food). Discussion questions: What ecological systems are you aware of? What are the various parts of this system and how do the parts interact? Do all ecological systems have things in common? What do they have in common? (e.g., decomposers, no waste, high productivity, diversity, resilience) Fungi: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=360151&picture=mushrooms-fungi-vintage-art Flower: https://pixabay.com/photos/plant-high-resolution-2556894/ Caterpillar: https://pixabay.com/vectors/animal-caterpillar-insect-larva-1297960/ Bird: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/birds-magpies-eating-australia-4955497/ Cat: https://pixabay.com/photos/bobcat-wildlife-lynx-predator-1151874/
- One way humans can emulate ecological systems is by doing things like recycling high-value materials, designing things to be easily recyclable, and designing things to be easily disassembled and biodegradable. Discussion: What aspect of nature does recycling mimic? Can you imagine a human-built world where everything gets recycled or composted? What prevents this? What could encourage this? If recycling mimics part of ecological system functioning, why won’t recycling work for all materials? More info: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-microfibers/ Recycling: https://pixabay.com/photos/park-waste-separation-recycling-4337477/ Dismantled phone: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deconstructed_(5581371710).jpg
- Humans can also emulate ecological systems by using the waste from one manufacturing process as the input for another manufacturing process. For example, in a Costa Rican dairy farm, the manure from the cows is fed to bacteria in a device called a “biodigester.” There, bacteria biodegrade the manure and give off methane. The methane is burned to produce electricity that is used to run the machinery for milking the cows. Meanwhile, the profits from the milk are used to pay off the biodigester. More info: https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pawlyn_using_nature_s_genius_in_architecture?language=en Costa Rica Diary Farm case study, see: https://jyx.jyu.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/18308/1/9513921549.pdf Cow: https://pixabay.com/photos/cow-dairy-cow-dress-walk-black-4380646/ Dung: https://pixabay.com/photos/crap-cow-dung-dung-1022586/ Bacteria: https://pixabay.com/photos/koli-bacteria-escherichia-coli-123081/ Methane: https://freesvg.org/methane-molecule-3d