BIOMIMICRYNature as Model, Measure, and Mentor

Webinar AgendaWebinar AgendaWebinar AgendaWebinar Agenda

Introduction to BiomimicryIntroduction to Biomimicry Introduction to BiomimicryIntroduction to Biomimicry The Scientific Approach to BiomimicryThe Scientific Approach to Biomimicry

A l i Bi i iA l i Bi i i Applying Biomimicry Applying Biomimicry Emerging Topics in BiomimicryEmerging Topics in Biomimicry Biomimicry ResourcesBiomimicry Resources Examples of Biomimicry (video link)Examples of Biomimicry (video link) Examples of Biomimicry (video link)Examples of Biomimicry (video link)Questions and CommentsQuestions and Comments

BIBI--OO--MIMMIM--ICIC--RYRY((From the Greek bios, life, and mimesis, imitation)From the Greek bios, life, and mimesis, imitation)

Nature as modelNature as model Biomimicry is a new scienceBiomimicry is a new scienceNature as model. Nature as model. Biomimicry is a new science Biomimicry is a new science that studies Nature’s models and then imitates or takes that studies Nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems.human problems.

Nature as measure. Nature as measure. Biomimicry uses an Biomimicry uses an l i l t d d t j d “ i ht ” fl i l t d d t j d “ i ht ” fecological standard to judge “rightness” of our ecological standard to judge “rightness” of our

innovations.innovations.

Nature as mentorNature as mentor Biomimicry is a new way ofBiomimicry is a new way ofNature as mentor. Nature as mentor. Biomimicry is a new way of Biomimicry is a new way of viewing and valuing Nature.viewing and valuing Nature.

Energy Efficiency: L i f N tLearning from Nature how to create flow without frictionwithout friction.PAX Fans and Impellers

Design: How doesDesign: How does Nature attach and detach?detach? Gecko tape

Toxics: Learning from l t h t l ith tplants how to clean without

cleaners. The Lotus Effect

Architecture: Learning from termites how to create sustainable buildings.gPassive Climate Control in the Eastport Building, Harare Zimbabwe

Transportation: How d N t t ldoes Nature travel quickly and smoothly?

The Bullet Train in Japanp

Climate Change:Learning from human lungs how to sequester carbon

Agriculture: Learning from prairies how to grow Agriculture: Learning from prairies how to grow food sustainablyfood sustainably Th L d I tit t i KTh L d I tit t i Kfood sustainably.food sustainably. The Land Institute in KansasThe Land Institute in Kansas

The Biomimicry Guild’s Functional TaxonomyThe Biomimicry Guild’s Functional Taxonomy

What functions do you want your design to perform?What functions do you want your design to perform?What functions do you want your design to perform? What functions do you want your design to perform? How does life perform that function?How does life perform that function?

Identify the Real ChallengeIdentify the Real Challenge Don’t ask “Don’t ask “whatwhat do you want to design?” (an air conditioner) do you want to design?” (an air conditioner)

Ask “what do you Ask “what do you want your design to dowant your design to do?” (make people feel cooler)?” (make people feel cooler)

Ask Ask “why?”“why?” multiple times: (Challenge: Air conditioners use lots of energy multiple times: (Challenge: Air conditioners use lots of energy because they use heat to dry desiccants that dehumidify air and then they because they use heat to dry desiccants that dehumidify air and then they must cool the heated air.)must cool the heated air.)

WhyWhy use desiccants? (To dry the air)use desiccants? (To dry the air)

WhyWhy do the units dry air? (Because high humidity makes air feel warmer)do the units dry air? (Because high humidity makes air feel warmer)

WhyWhy are they using heat? (To drive the moisture out of the desiccant so it are they using heat? (To drive the moisture out of the desiccant so it can be reused)can be reused)

So, you want a design to pull moisture So, you want a design to pull moisture out of air and cool the air!out of air and cool the air!

Develop a Design Brief Develop a Design Brief f th N d d F tif th N d d F tifor the Needed Functionfor the Needed Function

Biologize the Question:Biologize the Question:Biologize the Question:Biologize the Question: Identify functions (i.e. purpose, role, or use)Identify functions (i.e. purpose, role, or use)

How does Nature do that function?How does Nature do that function? How does Nature do that function?How does Nature do that function? How does Nature not do that function?How does Nature not do that function?

Reframe questions with Reframe questions with dditi l k ddditi l k dadditional keywords.additional keywords.

Define Operating ParametersDefine Operating Parameters

“Climate” conditions“Climate” conditionsClimate conditions Climate conditions “Nutrient” conditions“Nutrient” conditions

“Social” conditions“Social” conditions“Temporal” conditions“Temporal” conditionspp

H d t f thi f ti HERE?How does nature perform this function HERE? In this ecosystem?

Integrate Life's Principles Integrate Life's Principles into the Design Briefinto the Design Briefinto the Design Briefinto the Design Brief

Biomimicry uses an Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to ecological standard to ggjudge the “rightness” of judge the “rightness” of our innovation and our innovation and approaches.approaches.

Life’s PrinciplesLife’s PrinciplesLife s PrinciplesLife s Principles Life Creates Conditions Conducive to LifeLife Creates Conditions Conducive to Life

* Optimize rather than maximizing* Optimize rather than maximizingp gp gUsing multiUsing multi--functional designfunctional designFitting form to functionFitting form to function

* Leveraging interdependence* Leveraging interdependence Leveraging interdependence Leveraging interdependenceFostering cooperative relationshipsFostering cooperative relationshipsRecycling all materialsRecycling all materialsS lfS lf i ii iSelfSelf--organizingorganizing

* Benign manufacturing* Benign manufacturingLife friendly materialsLife friendly materialsyyWaterWater--based chemistrybased chemistrySelfSelf--assemblyassembly

Life’s PrinciplesLife’s PrinciplesLife s PrinciplesLife s Principles Life Adapts and EvolvesLife Adapts and Evolves

* Locally attuned and responsive* Locally attuned and responsiveR f l d t i tiR f l d t i tiResourceful and opportunisticResourceful and opportunisticShape rather than materialShape rather than materialSimple, common building blocksSimple, common building blocksCellular and nestedCellular and nestedCellular and nestedCellular and nestedFree energyFree energy

* Integrates cyclic process* Integrates cyclic processCross pollination and mutationCross pollination and mutationCross pollination and mutationCross pollination and mutation

* Feedback loops* Feedback loopsAntenna, signal and responseAntenna, signal and responseLearns and imitatesLearns and imitates

* Resilient* ResilientDecentralized and distributedDecentralized and distributedDiverseDiverseRedundantRedundant

Find The Best Natural ModelsFind The Best Natural Models

Go for a walk outsideGo for a walk outsideConsider both literal & metaphorical modelsConsider both literal & metaphorical modelsppComb the literatureComb the literatureBrainstorm with BiologistsBrainstorm with Biologists

www.asknature.orgwww.asknature.orgwww.asknature.orgwww.asknature.orgImagine 3.8 billion years of design brilliance available for free, at the Imagine 3.8 billion years of design brilliance available for free, at the moment of creation, to any sustainability innovator in the world. moment of creation, to any sustainability innovator in the world. , y y, y y

Imagine nature's most elegant ideas organized by design and Imagine nature's most elegant ideas organized by design and engineering function, so you can enter "filter salt from water" and engineering function, so you can enter "filter salt from water" and see how mangroves, penguins, and shorebirds desalinate without see how mangroves, penguins, and shorebirds desalinate without fossil fuels.fossil fuels.

N i i t th l h h t di d thN i i t th l h h t di d thNow imagine you can meet the people who have studied these Now imagine you can meet the people who have studied these organisms, and together you can create the next great bioorganisms, and together you can create the next great bio--inspired inspired solution.solution.

That's the idea behind AskNature, the online inspiration source for That's the idea behind AskNature, the online inspiration source for the biomimicry community.the biomimicry community.

Identify Deep Patterns & PrinciplesIdentify Deep Patterns & PrinciplesIdentify Deep Patterns & PrinciplesIdentify Deep Patterns & Principles

Look across discovered strategiesLook across discovered strategiesLook across discovered strategiesLook across discovered strategiesLook at the strategies collectively Look at the strategies collectively

Specific to your desired function, what Specific to your desired function, what does each strategy have in common?does each strategy have in common?

How are they different?How are they different?

Deepen the ConversationDeepen the ConversationDeepen the ConversationDeepen the Conversation

Are you mimicking form?Are you mimicking form? Are you mimicking form?Are you mimicking form?Can you mimic process?Can you mimic process?

C i i th t ?C i i th t ?Can you mimic the ecosystem?Can you mimic the ecosystem?

Ask the question Ask the question -- Does the design Does the design create conditions conducive to life?create conditions conducive to life?create conditions conducive to life?create conditions conducive to life?

Evaluate your findingsEvaluate your findingsEvaluate Evaluate your findingsEvaluate your findingsyour findingsfindings

Can it adapt and evolve?Can it adapt and evolve?Th k t h (N t ) f th i i tiTh k t h (N t ) f th i i tiThank your teacher (Nature) for the inspirationThank your teacher (Nature) for the inspiration

Innovation forInnovation forInnovation for Innovation for ConservationConservation

Protecting InnovationProtecting Innovation

Giving ThanksGiving ThanksTh Bi i i I tit t kTh Bi i i I tit t kThe Biomimicry Institute works The Biomimicry Institute works with companies to donate a with companies to donate a percentage of sales or savings percentage of sales or savings of products and processes thatof products and processes thatof products and processes that of products and processes that were inspired by Nature to were inspired by Nature to conservation efforts that help conservation efforts that help protect and restore the home protect and restore the home h bit t f th i i ih bit t f th i i ihabitats of these inspiring habitats of these inspiring organisms.organisms.

Emerging TopicsEmerging Topics -- What’s New?What’s New?Emerging Topics Emerging Topics What s New?What s New?

Biomimicry is a 21Biomimicry is a 21stst Century Century Design ProcessDesign Process

Th i i i t tTh i i i t tThe vision is to create The vision is to create * products* products*** processes, * processes, * organizations & * organizations & * li i* li i* policies, * policies, new ways of living new ways of living that are well adapted that are well adapted to life on earth over the to life on earth over the l h ll h llong haul.long haul.

Georgia TechGeorgia TechCenter for Biologically Inspired DesignCenter for Biologically Inspired DesignCenter for Biologically Inspired DesignCenter for Biologically Inspired Design

http://www.cbid.gatech.edu/http://www.cbid.gatech.edu/

Georgia TechGeorgia TechCenter for Biologically Inspired DesignCenter for Biologically Inspired Design

Biologist in the Board RoomBiologist in the Board RoomBiologist in the Board RoomBiologist in the Board Room

Use knowledge of biological systems andUse knowledge of biological systems andUse knowledge of biological systems and Use knowledge of biological systems and processes to create valuable assets in processes to create valuable assets in organizations with a commitment to organizations with a commitment to ggsustainability.sustainability.This ethos can be extended This ethos can be extended outside organizations to outside organizations to supply chain, customers, supply chain, customers,

iti d thiti d thcommunities, and the communities, and the natural world.natural world.

““Interface’s values are our guidingInterface’s values are our guidingInterface s values are our guiding Interface s values are our guiding principles.” principles.” –– Ray Anderson, CEORay Anderson, CEO

Achieving Mission Zero™Achieving Mission Zero™Interface’s Interface’s

dedication to dedication to sustainability has sustainability has evolved into the evolved into the

company’s Missioncompany’s Missioncompany s Mission company s Mission Zero commitment, Zero commitment,

our promise toour promise toour promise to our promise to eliminate any eliminate any

negative impact negative impact Interface has on Interface has on

the environment by the environment by 202020202020.2020.

Custom Innovation HabitatCustom Innovation HabitatCustom Innovation HabitatCustom Innovation HabitatA habitat is seeded with:A habitat is seeded with:A habitat is seeded with:A habitat is seeded with: Samples from commercially available lab Samples from commercially available lab

prototypes and bioprototypes and bio--inspired products andinspired products andprototypes and bioprototypes and bio inspired products and inspired products and materials.materials.

Biomimicry methodologies, systems explorationBiomimicry methodologies, systems exploration Biomimicry methodologies, systems exploration Biomimicry methodologies, systems exploration and intervention and Life’s Principles.and intervention and Life’s Principles.

Expedition pack for field exploration.Expedition pack for field exploration.p p pp p p Training guide for biomimicry brainstorming. Training guide for biomimicry brainstorming.

Interface Carpet’s Custom Innovation HabitatInterface Carpet’s Custom Innovation Habitat

KOHLERKOHLERKOHLERKOHLER

V l L f™ Vessels Leaf™

Amoeba thru ZebraAmoeba thru ZebraAmoeba thru ZebraAmoeba thru Zebra

Comparative analysis of nature’sComparative analysis of nature’sComparative analysis of nature s Comparative analysis of nature s strategies and US patent database reveled strategies and US patent database reveled a 12% overlap in design solutionsa 12% overlap in design solutionsa 12% overlap in design solutions.a 12% overlap in design solutions.

A b th b h l hA b th b h l hAmoeba thru zebra research reveals much Amoeba thru zebra research reveals much of the remaining 88% novel solutions to a of the remaining 88% novel solutions to a

' ifi d i h ll' ifi d i h llcompany's specific design challenge.company's specific design challenge.

NikeNikeNikeNikeClothing that wicked moisture away fromClothing that wicked moisture away fromClothing that wicked moisture away from Clothing that wicked moisture away from

the skin during the summer Olympicsthe skin during the summer Olympics

Ecological Performance Ecological Performance StandardsStandards

Site designers take inspirational cues fromSite designers take inspirational cues fromSite designers take inspirational cues from Site designers take inspirational cues from nature to set aspirational metrics for largenature to set aspirational metrics for large--scale projects.scale projects.p jp j

Goals for ecological performance matchGoals for ecological performance matchGoals for ecological performance match Goals for ecological performance match the local ecology can be set by the local ecology can be set by understanding the ecological performance understanding the ecological performance g g pg g pof the native ecosystem.of the native ecosystem.

Design evolutionDesign evolutionall LPs

more

regenerative =

LPs few LPs g

provides ecosystem services

LPs

sustainable = net zero

services

LEEDS

conventional =

net zero (minimum)“green” =

better than status quo average

Genius of PlaceGenius of PlaceGenius of PlaceGenius of Place

A survey of theA survey of theA survey of the A survey of the native ecosystem native ecosystem generates a list ofgenerates a list ofgenerates a list of generates a list of functional functional adaptations of adaptations of ppthe characteristic the characteristic species in the species in the native habitat.native habitat.

Human Artifacts Tell a StoryHuman Artifacts Tell a Story

Genius of PlaceGenius of PlaceGenius of PlaceGenius of PlaceFor siteFor site--specific design challenges of the specific design challenges of the p g gp g gbuilt environment, Genius of Place built environment, Genius of Place identifies the functional best practices identifies the functional best practices --pplocally attuned strategies locally attuned strategies adopted by local organisms adopted by local organisms p y gp y gspecific to your design specific to your design challenge.challenge.gg

Development site in ColoradoDevelopment site in Coloradopp

Incorporating Biomimicry Incorporating Biomimicry i P lii P liinto Policyinto Policy

“The “climate problem” will NOT be “The “climate problem” will NOT be l d th h t h l i l i til d th h t h l i l i tisolved through technological innovation. solved through technological innovation.

The LEVER is policy that allows for the The LEVER is policy that allows for the implementationimplementation of existing technology.”of existing technology.”pp g gyg gy

Auden Schendler, Aspen Ski CompanyAuden Schendler, Aspen Ski Company

The Course Challenge (thesis)The Course Challenge (thesis)The Course Challenge (thesis)The Course Challenge (thesis)Develop a methodology to evaluate existing Develop a methodology to evaluate existing p gy gp gy gsustainability plans to determine how and sustainability plans to determine how and where to incorporate Life’s Principles.where to incorporate Life’s Principles.p pp p

Recommendation how to implement policyRecommendation how to implement policyRecommendation how to implement policy Recommendation how to implement policy that will incorporate Life’s Principles for: that will incorporate Life’s Principles for:

Cuyahoga CountyCuyahoga County (County Commissioners)(County Commissioners) Cuyahoga County Cuyahoga County (County Commissioners)(County Commissioners)

Biofuels Industry Biofuels Industry (EPA, ORD)(EPA, ORD)

EU E i t l PEU E i t l P (S d )(S d ) EU Environmental Programs EU Environmental Programs (Sweden)(Sweden)

Thinking About the Whole SystemThinking About the Whole Systemg yg yThe bureaucracy and The bureaucracy and political influence withinpolitical influence withinpolitical influence within political influence within government agencies government agencies can be an impediment can be an impediment ppthat prevents dedicated that prevents dedicated scientists and engineers scientists and engineers f i df i dfrom going deeper.from going deeper.

Biomimicry allows Biomimicry allows employees the creativity employees the creativity to find restorative solutionsto find restorative solutionsto find restorative solutions to find restorative solutions to environmental problemsto environmental problems..

Biomimicry encourages biologists and engineers to Biomimicry encourages biologists and engineers to collaborate, using nature as model and measure.collaborate, using nature as model and measure., g, g

Life manufactures, does chemistry, builds structures, Life manufactures, does chemistry, builds structures, designs systems and engineers to within a fine tolerancedesigns systems and engineers to within a fine tolerancedesigns systems, and engineers to within a fine tolerance.designs systems, and engineers to within a fine tolerance.

BIOMIMICRY allows us to ask:BIOMIMICRY allows us to ask:BIOMIMICRY allows us to ask: BIOMIMICRY allows us to ask: What is connected?What is connected?

Nature as Mentor

* Incredibly competent universe* Nature’s living examples* Can live abundantlyand enhance where you live

* Much older mentors havefigured it outfigured it out

* We can do the same thing

– JANINE BENYUS

ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources

Bi i iBi i i bb U.S.EPA Region 8U.S.EPA Region 8Marie B. ZanowickMarie B. ZanowickPollution Prevention & Toxics UnitPollution Prevention & Toxics Unit1595 Wynkoop Street1595 Wynkoop Street

BiomimicryBiomimicry by: by: Janine M. BenyusJanine M. Benyus

Biomimicry InstituteBiomimicry Institute 1595 Wynkoop Street1595 Wynkoop StreetDenver, CO 80202Denver, CO 80202

Mail code: 8PMail code: 8P--P3TP3T

Biomimicry Institute Biomimicry Institute www.biomimicryinstitute.orgwww.biomimicryinstitute.org

Biomimicry Guild Biomimicry Guild Phone: 303Phone: 303--312312--64026402Fax: 303Fax: 303--312312--60446044EE--mail: mail: zanowick.marie@epa.govzanowick.marie@epa.gov

www.biomimicryguild.comwww.biomimicryguild.com

Ask Nature: Ask Nature: k tk twww.asknature.orgwww.asknature.org

To hear more about Biomimicry applications - check out this video

http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html