BIOMIMICRY

Nature as Model, Measure, and Mentor

BI-O-MIM-IC-RY
(From the Greek bios, life, and mimesis, imitation)
Nature as model. Biomimicry is a new science
that studies Natures models and then imitates or takes
inspiration from these designs and processes to solve
human problems.
Nature as measure. Biomimicry uses an
ecological standard to judge rightness of our
innovations.
Nature as mentor. 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 Shinkansen Bullet
Train in Japan


Medicine: Learning from Chimpanzees how to heal
ourselves


Human Safety:
Learning from Dolphins how to warn people about Tsunamis



Climate Change:
Learning from human lungs how to sequester carbon



Agriculture: Learning from prairies how to grow food
sustainably

The Biomimicry Guilds
Functional Taxonomy
Function is the pivot between lifes wisdom and what we
are trying to achieve intentionally.
What function do you want your design to perform?
How does life perform that function?

The Biomimicry Guild has produced an organized
collection of functions that covers everything that life
does and that we might want a design to do.

The functions are grouped by similarity so its called a
taxonomy (an organized system of naming) of functions.
Identify the Real Challenge

Dont 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.

Develop a Design Brief for the Needed Function
Define Operating Parameters;
Climate conditions: (wet, dry, cold, hot, low/high
pressure, highly variable, high/low UV,etc.)
Nutrient conditions: (nutrient poor =no $,
nutrient rich = lots of available materials)
Social conditions: (competitive, cooperative)
Temporal conditions: (dynamic, static, growing,
ageing)

After defining operating parameters, ask:
How does Nature do that function HERE?
In these conditions?


Integrate Life's Principles
into the Design Brief


Optimize rather than maximize
Locally attuned and responsive
Build in resilience
Leverage interdependence
Integrate cyclic processes
Use benign manufacturing



Find The Best Natural Models

Go for a walk outside
Consider both literal and metaphorical
models
Comb the literature
Brainstorm with Biologists




Identify Deep Patterns and
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?

Does the design
create conditions conducive to life?

Evaluate your findings
Can it adapt and evolve?

Thank your teacher (Nature)
for the inspiration


Nature as Mentor

* Incredibly competent universe
* Natures 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
?? Questions ??
How can EPA use Biomimicry to meet our
mission?

Where are the leverage points EPA can
use to promote Biomimicry as part of a
sustainable ecosystem approach?