BIOINSPIRATION AND BIOMIMETICS

Learning

From

Nature

March 2011

Program in Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Bill Conner

Faculty Director

Program in Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship:

An Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Undergraduate College Schools of Business

Office of Personal and Career Development

Innovation,

Creativity

Entrepreneurship

Teaching and Research

Experiential Activities

Mission Statement

We seek to create and sustain an environment that

fosters entrepreneurial thinking and action across

the campus.

Motto

“Any student,

any discipline,

anytime”

Experiential Programs

Student

Entrepreneurs

Seed Grants

Digital

Media

Labs

E-Society

Internships/

Independent

Studies

Mentoring

Innovation

Station

Academic Programs

Academic

Programs

Faculty

Seminar

Inter-

disciplinary

Minor

Research

5th Year

Institute

Creativity

and

Innovation

Conferences

And

Workshops

Most Popular Minor on Campus

Minor in Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise

Core Courses

ESE 100 Creativity and Innovation

ESE 101 Foundations of Entrepreneurship

ESE 205 Managing the Entrepreneurial Venture:

Start-ups to Early Growth

Electives

Minor in Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise

Electives

ESE 203 Introduction to Professional Writing

ESE 310 Arts Entrepreneurship

ESE 320 Social Entrepreneurship

ESE 325 Free Trade, Fair Trade: Independent Entrepreneurs in the Global Market

ESE 330 Entrepreneurship For Scientists

ESE 325 Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship

ESE 350 Internship

ESE 391 Independent Study

Mainstreaming the Minor

New Courses Cross-listed in DepartmentsESE 357 Bioinspiration and Biomimetics – Biology, Bill Conner

ESE 321 Social Entrepreneurship and the Humanities – Humanities, David Phillips

ESE 380 America at Work – History, Michele Gillespie

ESE 315 Nonprofit Arts and Education Entrepreneurship –

Romance Languages, Linda Howe

ESE 351 Green Technologies – Chemistry, Dilip Konepudi and Abdou Lachgar

ESE 371 Economics – Economics, Robert Whaples

ESE 340 Communication Technology and Entrepreneurship – Communication, Ananda Mitra

ESE 121 Introduction to Computer Science: Mobile Computing – Computer Science, Paul Pauca

BIOINSPIRATION AND BIOMIMETICS

Learning

From

Nature

Definitions

Biomimetics – “ The distillation of principles and functions found in biological systems…and the application of this knowledge to produce novel…technologies and new approaches to solving problems.” Slavishly copying nature.

Bioinspiration – “ Being inspired by genius of nature but not mimicking the technology precisely”

Readings

Lecture Flow

Small

Large

Nanotechnology

Cellular Level

Organisms Level

Systems Level

Networks

Project Flow

• E-Team Formation – Junior and Senior Biology majors and Entrepreneurship Minors

• Ideation X3

• Feasibility Analysis X2

• Business Model X1

Local Resources: University

Cellular Inspirations – Dr. Jed Macosko, Physics

My Opportunity: Why Will and Won’t This Work – Pat Dickson, WFU Schools of Business

Intellectual Property – Steve Susalka, Office of Technology and Asset Management

Properties of Biological Fibers – Dr. Martin Gutold, Physics

Nanotechnology – Dr. David Carroll, Physics

Jed Macosko: CellCraft

Local Resources: University

Computer Vision and Dragonfly Eyes – Dr. Paul Pauca, Computer Science

Optogenetics – Dr. Dwayne Godwin, WFU School of Medicine

Biomechanics of Walking and Running – Dr. Miriam Ashley-Ross, Biology

Biomechanics of Swimming – Dr. Brad Chadwell, UNCG

Local Resources: University

Complexity, Chaos and Fractals – Dr. Paul Laurienti,

WFU School of Medicine

Algorithms of Swarm Technology – Dr. Erin Fulp, Math

Local Resources: Community

Dr. Mark Van Dyke – KeraNetics http://www.keranetics.com/

Afton Vechery (student intern) – KeraNetics

Dr. Fan Lu – Algaen

http://www.algaen.com/

Dr. Deepak Jain – Tengion

http://www.tengion.com/

Student E-teams: Case Study

MapleBlades

Billy Oelsner, Biology

Billy Conway, Economics

Zach Cary, MBA

MapleBlades

Implications for Windmill rotor design

Applied for Provisional Patent!

Future of the Course

• Studio Environment Laboratory Section

• Scientific Visualization• Motion Analysis• Rapid Prototyping• http://www.centerfordesigninnovation.org

Future of the Course

• NCIIA Grant

• WFU Innovation Fellows Certificate Program

• Entrepreneurial WorkshopsThe Innovation and Entrepreneurship Process

Sources of Innovation

Evaluating Innovation Potential: What is a Business Model?

Intellectual Property: Protecting Your Idea

Market Analysis and Market Research

Industry Analysis and Industry Research

Targeting and Positioning: Building a Competitive Advantage

Evaluating the Venture from a Financial Perspective

Going to Market: Creating a Mission, Vision and Strategy

Building a Team and Using Social Capital

Sources of Financial Capital

Presenting Your Venture to Others 

Discussion?

conner@wfu.edu