Biomimicry lesson 1

What will we do in this Class?

• We will learn what Biomimicry is and how it is changing the world around us

• We will learn how to look at nature as mentor and learn from it

• We will learn the design process and apply biomimicry to it

What is Biomimicry?

• Biomimicry is Learning from and then emulating natural Forms, Processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs

  • Studying Biological Research as to how nature solves problems and applying those solutions to human design

  • How does nature do?

Basic Biomimicry Vocab

• Organism: The plant or animal being studied

• Function: What problem the organism achieves

• Context: The surrounding environment in which an adaptation evolves and works.

Basic Biomimicry Vocab

• Adaptation: An evolutionary trait that helps an organism accomplish a specific function

  • What is it?

• Mechanism: How a particular adaptation works

Basic Biomimicry Vocab

• Application: How a mechanism can be applied to human creativity.

Why Biomimicry?

• All life has to survive under the same overall context

  • Atmosphere

  • Gravity

  • Radiation from Sun

Why Biomimicry?

• All Organisms in Nature depend on their adaptations to survive

  • Adaptations not only have to work but be cost-effective for survival

  • Adaptations are “tested” by Evolutionary influence throughout Hundreds of Years

What is NOT Biomimicry?

• Many things may seem like biomimicry but really are not

  • Bio-utilization: Harvesting a product or producer

  • Bio-assistance: Using a domesticated organism to achieve a function

  • Biomorphic: Taking inspiration in terms of appearance, but not actually looking at the function

How to Biomimicry?

• There are three primary levels of biomimicry that people can look to

  • Level 1: Mimicking the Natural Form

    • Looking at an organism and copying the design

      • Does not necessarily have to be one to one

How to Biomimicry?

• There are three primary levels of biomimicry that people can look to

  • Level 2: Mimicking the Natural Process

    • Looking at how an organism does what it does

      • Trying to do things at low temperatures and with minimal chemicals

How to Biomimicry?

• There are three primary levels of biomimicry that people can look to

  • Level 2: Mimicking the Ecosystem

    • Looking at how an organism relates with everything around it

      • Requires collaboration