Biomimicry Institute

During last week’s discussion in class, we were introduced to interesting topics brought up from “the Better World by Design” conference. One of the many topics that drew my interest was Biomimicry. One of students who attended the conference briefly explained the Biomimicry Institute as a non-profit organization suggesting nature as a sustainable solution for solving design problems by asking “How Would Nature Solve This?”

"The more our world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not ours alone." This is Janine Benyus’ quote, which was on the website of the Biomimcry Institute.

The Biomimicry Institute educates people about nature as a model, measure and mentor. Biomimicry values that the nature world is an ideal model to solve human problems, a standard measurement to evaluate the sustainability of human innovations, and a constructive guide human can learn from. Based on how nature solves its many problems, Biomimicry predicts that human can use these designs and processes and will be able to create a more sustainable and healthier planet.

The Biomimicry Institute gathers the biological information and selects nature’s 100 best technologies that can be innovative and potential propositions in the field of manufacturing, architecture, health, energy, chemistry, agriculture, and, in a bigger sense, all the aspects of human living.

While they are collaborating with different companies to put these projects together, they’re also focusing on educating people. Many designers seek design answers from nature and many designs have been inspired by nature. So now they know how important nature is as a source of information. The idea of nature as a means of solving problems is a new way of thinking. The Biomimicry Institute is very passionate about sharing formal and informal teachings about the science of learning from nature. The institute has been developing an educational system for all ages, for all subjects, and by using all methods. For example, the system will explain how nature deals with certain problems or topics, showing particular examples from nature. That will illustrate the case studies of the technology inspired by nature. The information will be modified then distributed to students K-12 or to designers, engineers, and scientists for professional use.

I found this very fascinating how they not just collect, produce, and put information out there but also actually looked for practical ways to reach people with that information. The institute envisions Biomimicry to be embedded as a rich resource in education, research, and business and it will eventually change human perspective and the importance/value of the world.

for more information http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/