BIOMIMICRY Nature as Model, Measure, and Mentor Webinar Agenda Introduction to Biomimicry The Scientific Approach to Biomimicry Applying Biomimicry Emerging Topics in.
Download ReportTranscript BIOMIMICRY Nature as Model, Measure, and Mentor Webinar Agenda Introduction to Biomimicry The Scientific Approach to Biomimicry Applying Biomimicry Emerging Topics in.
BIOMIMICRY Nature as Model, Measure, and Mentor Webinar Agenda Introduction to Biomimicry The Scientific Approach to Biomimicry Applying Biomimicry Emerging Topics in Biomimicry Biomimicry Resources Examples of Biomimicry (video link) Questions and Comments BI-O-MIM-IC-RY (From the Greek bios, life, and mimesis, imitation) Nature as model. Nature as measure. Nature as mentor. Biomimicry is a new science that studies Nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems. Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge “rightness” of our innovations. Biomimicry is a new way of viewing and valuing Nature. Energy Efficiency: Learning from Nature how to create flow without friction. PAX Fans and Impellers Design: How does Nature attach and detach? Gecko tape Toxics: Learning from plants how to clean without cleaners. The Lotus Effect Architecture: Learning from termites how to create sustainable buildings. Passive Climate Control in the Eastport Building, Harare Zimbabwe Transportation: How does Nature travel quickly and smoothly? The Bullet Train in Japan Climate Change: Learning from human lungs how to sequester carbon Agriculture: Learning from prairies how to grow food sustainably. The Land Institute in Kansas The Biomimicry Guild’s Functional Taxonomy What functions do you want your design to perform? How does life perform that function? Identify the Real Challenge Don’t ask “what do you want to design?” (an air conditioner) Ask “what do you want your design to do?” (make people feel cooler) Ask “why?” multiple times: (Challenge: Air conditioners use lots of energy because they use heat to dry desiccants that dehumidify air and then they must cool the heated air.) Why use desiccants? (To dry the air) Why do the units dry air? (Because high humidity makes air feel warmer) Why are they using heat? (To drive the moisture out of the desiccant so it can be reused) So, you want a design to pull moisture out of air and cool the air! Develop a Design Brief for the Needed Function Biologize the Question: Identify functions (i.e. purpose, role, or use) How does Nature do that function? How does Nature not do that function? Reframe questions with additional keywords. Define Operating Parameters “Climate” conditions “Nutrient” conditions “Social” conditions “Temporal” conditions How does nature perform this function HERE? In this ecosystem? Integrate Life's Principles into the Design Brief Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the “rightness” of our innovation and approaches. Life’s Principles Life Creates Conditions Conducive to Life * Optimize rather than maximizing Using multi-functional design Fitting form to function * Leveraging interdependence Fostering cooperative relationships Recycling all materials Self-organizing * Benign manufacturing Life friendly materials Water-based chemistry Self-assembly Life’s Principles Life Adapts and Evolves * Locally attuned and responsive Resourceful and opportunistic Shape rather than material Simple, common building blocks Cellular and nested Free energy * Integrates cyclic process Cross pollination and mutation * Feedback loops Antenna, signal and response Learns and imitates * Resilient Decentralized and distributed Diverse Redundant Find The Best Natural Models Go for a walk outside Consider both literal & metaphorical models Comb the literature Brainstorm with Biologists www.asknature.org Imagine 3.8 billion years of design brilliance available for free, at the moment of creation, to any sustainability innovator in the world. Imagine nature's most elegant ideas organized by design and engineering function, so you can enter "filter salt from water" and see how mangroves, penguins, and shorebirds desalinate without fossil fuels. Now imagine you can meet the people who have studied these organisms, and together you can create the next great bio-inspired solution. That's the idea behind AskNature, the online inspiration source for the biomimicry community. Identify Deep Patterns & Principles Look across discovered strategies Look at the strategies collectively Specific to your desired function, what does each strategy have in common? How are they different? Deepen the Conversation Are you mimicking form? Can you mimic process? Can you mimic the ecosystem? Ask the question - Does the design create conditions conducive to life? Evaluate Evaluate your findings your findings Can it adapt and evolve? Thank your teacher (Nature) for the inspiration Innovation for Conservation Protecting Innovation Giving Thanks The Biomimicry Institute works with companies to donate a percentage of sales or savings of products and processes that were inspired by Nature to conservation efforts that help protect and restore the home habitats of these inspiring organisms. Emerging Topics - What’s New? Biomimicry is a 21st Century Design Process The vision is to create * products * processes, * organizations & * policies, new ways of living that are well adapted to life on earth over the long haul. Georgia Tech Center for Biologically Inspired Design http://www.cbid.gatech.edu/ Georgia Tech Center for Biologically Inspired Design Biologist in the Board Room Use knowledge of biological systems and processes to create valuable assets in organizations with a commitment to sustainability. This ethos can be extended outside organizations to supply chain, customers, communities, and the natural world. “Interface’s values are our guiding principles.” – Ray Anderson, CEO Achieving Mission Zero™ Interface’s dedication to sustainability has evolved into the company’s Mission Zero commitment, our promise to eliminate any negative impact Interface has on the environment by 2020. Custom Innovation Habitat A habitat is seeded with: Samples from commercially available lab prototypes and bio-inspired products and materials. Biomimicry methodologies, systems exploration and intervention and Life’s Principles. Expedition pack for field exploration. Training guide for biomimicry brainstorming. Interface Carpet’s Custom Innovation Habitat KOHLER Vessels Leaf™ Amoeba thru Zebra Comparative analysis of nature’s strategies and US patent database reveled a 12% overlap in design solutions. Amoeba thru zebra research reveals much of the remaining 88% novel solutions to a company's specific design challenge. Nike Clothing that wicked moisture away from the skin during the summer Olympics Ecological Performance Standards Site designers take inspirational cues from nature to set aspirational metrics for largescale projects. Goals for ecological performance match the local ecology can be set by understanding the ecological performance of the native ecosystem. Design evolution more LPs all LPs few LPs regenerative = provides ecosystem services LEEDS conventional = status quo “green” = better than average sustainable = net zero (minimum) Genius of Place A survey of the native ecosystem generates a list of functional adaptations of the characteristic species in the native habitat. Human Artifacts Tell a Story Genius of Place For site-specific design challenges of the built environment, Genius of Place identifies the functional best practices locally attuned strategies adopted by local organisms specific to your design challenge. Development site in Colorado Incorporating Biomimicry into Policy “The “climate problem” will NOT be solved through technological innovation. The LEVER is policy that allows for the implementation of existing technology.” Auden Schendler, Aspen Ski Company The Course Challenge (thesis) Develop a methodology to evaluate existing sustainability plans to determine how and where to incorporate Life’s Principles. Recommendation how to implement policy that will incorporate Life’s Principles for: Cuyahoga County (County Commissioners) Biofuels Industry (EPA, ORD) EU Environmental Programs (Sweden) Thinking About the Whole System The bureaucracy and political influence within government agencies can be an impediment that prevents dedicated scientists and engineers from going deeper. Biomimicry allows employees the creativity to find restorative solutions to environmental problems. Biomimicry encourages biologists and engineers to collaborate, using nature as model and measure. Life manufactures, does chemistry, builds structures, designs systems, and engineers to within a fine tolerance. BIOMIMICRY allows us to ask: What is connected? Nature as Mentor * Incredibly competent universe * Nature’s living examples * Can live abundantly and enhance where you live * Much older mentors have figured it out * We can do the same thing – JANINE BENYUS Resources Biomimicry by: Janine M. Benyus Biomimicry Institute www.biomimicryinstitute.org Biomimicry Guild www.biomimicryguild.com Ask Nature: www.asknature.org U.S.EPA Region 8 Marie B. Zanowick Pollution Prevention & Toxics Unit 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202 Mail code: 8P-P3T Phone: 303-312-6402 Fax: 303-312-6044 E-mail: [email protected] To hear more about Biomimicry applications - check out this video http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html