Presentation to the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen on the 31st March 2017 as part of their working group on the Bio-Economy and the Circular Economy by Richard James MacCowan of Biomimicry UK.

2. Biological Problem Solving
31st March - European Environment Agency

3. workshops
public
speaking
consulting

5. Bio-inspired circular bio-economy?

6. Compete?

7. Or…
Collaborate?

9. What is learning from nature?

10. Biomimetics SustainabilityBiomimicry
Bioinspiration
Bionics
Biologically Inspired Design
Nature-inspired
Engineering
Neo-Biomimetic
Engineering

11. Research-led

12. Industry-led

14. Source: Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network
Periodic Table’s
Endangered
Elements

15. Image credit: Logoplaste Innovation Labs
Heat - Beat -
Treat

16. Why take inspiration from nature?

17. Innovation: University of Adelaide
(https://chemeng.adelaide.edu.au/losic-group/research/nanotechnology-diatoms/)
Diatoms - water
filtration &
nano-
electronics

18. Innovation: DuPont
(http://bit.ly/2m8veW4)
Honeycomb -
lightweight
& strength

19. Innovation: University of Stuttgart / Flectofin
(http://www.blogionik.org/flectofin-hingless-flapping-mechanism/)
Bird of Paradise
Flower -
hingeless
mechanisms

20. Source: University of Bath
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664643/)
substance
structure
space
energy
time
information

21. Source: University of Bath
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664643/)

22. Source: University of Bath
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664643/)
Technology
3%
55%
5%
19%
4%
14%
Biology
18%
6%
12%
25%
30%
9%
Substance
Structure
Space
Time
Energy
Information

23. Source: Dr Rupert Soar - Freeform Construction Ltd
evolution of
successful
biological
strategies

24. technical
parallel
innovation

25. – Christopher Alexander (1977)
“Pattern Language”

26. Source: Kapsali, V. (2016) Biomimetics for Designers
Use free or
abundant
energy
Multi-
functional
Waste =
resource
Localise
sensing and
adaptation
Maximise use
of resources

27. Source: Vogel, S (1998) Cats, Paws and Catapults
Uses less flat
and more
curved
surfaces.
Take advantage
of diffusion,
surface tension,
and laminar flow.
Uses nonrigid
bodies that
reconfigure in
flows.
Objects bend,
twist, or stretch
at predetermined
places.
Uses foams and
composites to
fill cracks.
Very often loads
in tension.
Structures with
tensile sheaths
outside and
pressurised
fluid inside.

28. Source: Vogel, S (1998) Cats, Paws and Catapults
Constant
maintenance,
but often self-
repair.
Technology is
wet.
Factories often
produce things
larger, not
smaller, than
themselves.
Overwhelmingly
prefers
submarines.
Engines are
based on
sliding or
contracting.
Stores
mechanical work
as elastic
energy.

29. Source: Vogel, S (1998) Cats, Paws and Catapults
Maximise use
of resources

31. Image credit: Logoplaste Innovation Labs
twisting growth
provide
strength
Source: Logoplaste Innovation Labs

32. Image credit: Logoplaste Innovation Labs
Source: Logoplaste Innovation Labs

33. Image credit: Logoplaste Innovation Labs
Source: Logoplaste Innovation Labs

34. Image credit: Logoplaste Innovation LabsImage credit: Logoplaste Innovation Labs
Source: Logoplaste Innovation Labs

35. Source: Kapsali, V. (2016) Biomimetics for Designers
Waste =
resource

37. Agricultural
waste

38. Fungi

39. Image: Alison Harrington @ flickr.com CC.
Fungal
networks

40. + +

41. Source: inhabtitat.com

42. Car bumpers

43. Building
materials

44. Source: Vogel, S (1998) Cats, Paws and Catapults
Factories often
produce things
larger, not
smaller, than
themselves.

45. Innovation: Airbus
(http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/story-overview/Pioneering-bionic-3D-printing.html)

46. Superorganism

47. slime mould
algorithm

48. Innovation: Airbus
(http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/story-overview/Pioneering-bionic-3D-printing.html)

49. Innovation: Airbus
(http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/story-overview/Pioneering-bionic-3D-printing.html)

50. 3d printed
elements
Innovation: Airbus
(http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/story-overview/Pioneering-bionic-3D-printing.html)

51. Innovation: General Electric
(http://invent.ge/2m4Gq9f)
Innovation: Airbus
(http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/story-overview/Pioneering-bionic-3D-printing.html)
45% reduction
in weight

52. Innovation: Airbus
(http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/story-overview/Pioneering-bionic-3D-printing.html)

53. Source: Vogel, S (1998) Cats, Paws and Catapults
Constant
maintenance,
but often self-
repair.

54. Innovation: McGill University
(http://bam.lab.mcgill.ca/project_pages/biomimetic-composite.html)
nacre - “mother
of pearl”

55. Source: D’Elia, E. et al (2016) http://www.nature.com/articles/srep25059
brickwork
structure

56. Source: D’Elia, E. et al (2016) http://www.nature.com/articles/srep25059

57. Source: D’Elia, E. et al (2016) http://www.nature.com/articles/srep25059

60. Source http://www.icesi.edu.co/
Kalundborg -
Industrial
Symbiosis

61. Source: Graphics by Exploration Architecture
ABLE Project -
“Cardboard to
Caviar”

62. Horses
Worms
Packaging
Food
Plants
Fish
Maggots
Bread
Caviar
Biomass
Vegetables
People
Water
Treatment Crops
Fruits

63. Source: Nexus Farms Ltd.
Mobius Project
- Nexus Farms
Ltd
Urban farm
Fish Farm
Food Market
Wormery
Mushroom
farm
Aneorbic
digester
Biomass CHP
Living Water
Machine
Limestone via
Carbon
Sequestration

64. Source: Nexus Farms Ltd.
Food
Production
Energy
Generation
Water
Treatment

65. Source: Melissa Project - The European Space Agency
Replicating
pond habitats

66. Source: International Living Future Institute - www.living-future.org

68. Source: Terrapin Bright Green - Tapping into Nature
(https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/report/tapping-nature/)

69. Source: Fortune Magazine

70. agent-based
modelling +
ontologies

71. Forest
City
City inspired by
a forest
ecosystem

72. Water
Management
Packaging
Design +
Materials
City
Systems
Manufacturing
Processes
ICT

73. Final thoughts….

74. Circular
Economy
Biomimicry
Bio-Economy
Industrial
Ecology
Ecological
Design

75. Biomimicry
Bio-
Economy
Circular
Economy
Industrial
Ecology
Ecological
DesignCommon
Sense!

76. Biomimicry
Bio-
Economy
Circular
Economy
Industrial
Ecology
Ecological
Design

77. Circular
Economy
Industrial
Ecology
Biomimicry
Bio-Economy
Ecological Design

78. #1 - Nature opens up a
new avenue for
idea generation

79. #2 - Talk outcomes, not
process. DO NOT
mention biomimicry!

80. – R Buckminster Fuller
"In order to change an existing paradigm you do not struggle
to try and change the problematic model. You create a new
model and make the old one obsolete."

81. Richard James MacCowan
Co-Founder | Director
richard@bio-uk.org | www.bio-uk.org | @Biomimicry_UK
Thank you!