Welcome to our course on Let’s Ask Nature: How Biology Informs Modern Design and Problem Solving http://www.chemistry2011.org/images/news/Biology[3].jpg http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/fieldbio_files/Ant_and_Treehopper.jpg Moderator: Peter Woodruff SS3L Winter 2015

Biomimicry is an old practice and a new discipline that emulates nature’s time-tested strategies for surviving and thriving sustainably on Earth. International Society of Sustainability Professionals 

Biomimicry is a growing discipline that studies nature’s systems and then imitates these designs and processes to sustainably solve current challenges. Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell is an example of biomimicry. Studying the intertwined complexities of a watershed to understand systems thinking is another. While biomimicry may be an emerging discipline in western culture, it is preceded by the practice of biomimicry embedded in many indigenous cultures.  http://www.sustainabilityleadersnetwork.org/2013/03/biomimicry-curriculum/

Biomimicry is a growing discipline that studies nature’s systems and then imitates these designs and processes to sustainably solve current challenges. Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell is an example of biomimicry. Studying the intertwined complexities of a watershed to understand systems thinking is another. While biomimicry may be an emerging discipline in western culture, it is preceded by the practice of biomimicry embedded in many indigenous cultures.  http://www.sustainabilityleadersnetwork.org/2013/03/biomimicry-curriculum/

Biomimicry is a growing discipline that studies nature’s systems and then imitates these designs and processes to sustainably solve current challenges. Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell is an example of biomimicry. Studying the intertwined complexities of a watershed to understand systems thinking is another. While biomimicry may be an emerging discipline in western culture, it is preceded by the practice of biomimicry embedded in many indigenous cultures.  http://www.sustainabilityleadersnetwork.org/2013/03/biomimicry-curriculum/

Biomimicry is a growing discipline that studies nature’s systems and then imitates these designs and processes to sustainably solve current challenges. Studying a leaf to invent a better solar cell is an example of biomimicry. Studying the intertwined complexities of a watershed to understand systems thinking is another. While biomimicry may be an emerging discipline in western culture, it is preceded by the practice of biomimicry embedded in many indigenous cultures.  http://www.sustainabilityleadersnetwork.org/2013/03/biomimicry- curriculum/ http://www.museevirtuel.ca/media/edu/EN/uploads/image/L2D71518401630385458686.jpg

What Could Nature Teach Us? Agriculture Architecture Climate Change Energy Energy Efficiency Human Safety Industrial Design Medicine Natural Cleaning Transportation Biomimicry 3.8 http://biomimicry.net/about/biomimicry/case-examples/

So, are all of these terms equivalent? See handout

http://www. sustainabilityleadersnetwork http://www.sustainabilityleadersnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Day-1-Slides-on-Biomimicry-advanced.pdf

Papers in biomimetics http://data.nistep.go.jp/dspace/bitstream/11035/2843/1/NISTEP-STT037E-53.pdf http://data.nistep.go.jp/dspace/bitstream/11035/2843/1/NISTEP-STT037E-53.pdf

http://www. sustainablebrands http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/products_design/sustainable_brands/2015_biomimicry_global_design_challenge_offering_1

Why Look to Biology for Design Ideas?

Janine Benyus: 12 sustainable design ideas from nature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n77BfxnVlyc