Biomimicry lesson 1

Introduction To Biomimicry

Poll

Why are you in this Class?

• I know what Biomimicry is and want to do it

• I have some idea what Biomimicry is and want to learn more

• I have no Idea what Biomimicry is but needed one more class to fill out my schedule

• I really just wanted to take forensics in the 2nd semester

• I am in this course against my will. Please send for help

Open Ended

What do you think Biomimicry is?

What will we do in this Class?

• We will learn what Biomimicry is and how it is changing the world around us

• We will learn how to look at nature as mentor and learn from it

• We will learn the design process and apply biomimicry to it

What is Biomimicry?

• Biomimicry is Learning from and then emulating natural Forms, Processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs

  • Studying Biological Research as to how nature solves problems and applying those solutions to human design

  • How does nature do?

Basic Biomimicry Vocab

• Organism: The plant or animal being studied

• Function: What problem the organism achieves

• Context: The surrounding environment in which an adaptation evolves and works.

Basic Biomimicry Vocab

• Adaptation: An evolutionary trait that helps an organism accomplish a specific function

  • What is it?

• Mechanism: How a particular adaptation works

Basic Biomimicry Vocab

• Application: How a mechanism can be applied to human creativity.

Multiple Choice

A mulberry tree would be an example of which vocabulary term?

• Organism

• Context

• Function

• Adaptation

• Mechanism

Multiple Choice

The Following sentence gives an example of which Vocabulary term: In order to prevent fungal infection, several species of mulberry have evolved specialized leaf surfaces. These leaves have tightly spaced grooves and ridges, ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 μm in height.

• Organism

• Function

• Context

• Mechanism

• Adaptation

Multiple Choice

The Following sentence gives an example of which Vocabulary term: Mulberry trees live in damp environments where they are exposed to various types of fungal parasites.

• Organism

• Function

• Context

• Mechanism

• Adaptation

Multiple Choice

The Following sentence gives an example of which Vocabulary term: Because the leaves highly variable surface, the fungi is unable to access the stoma, and thus dies before it is able to penetrate the surface of the leaf and infect the rest of the mulberry plant.

• Organism

• Function

• Context

• Mechanism

• Adaptation

Why Biomimicry?

• All life has to survive under the same overall context

  • Atmosphere

  • Gravity

  • Radiation from Sun

Why Biomimicry?

• All Organisms in Nature depend on their adaptations to survive

  • Adaptations not only have to work but be cost-effective for survival

  • Adaptations are “tested” by Evolutionary influence throughout Hundreds of Years

What is NOT Biomimicry?

• Many things may seem like biomimicry but really are not

  • Bio-utilization: Harvesting a product or producer

  • Bio-assistance: Using a domesticated organism to achieve a function

  • Biomorphic: Taking inspiration in terms of appearance, but not actually looking at the function

Multiple Choice

George raises bacteria cultures to make cheese. What is this an example of?

• Biomimicry

• Bio-utilization

• Bio-assistance

• Biomorphic

Multiple Choice

Velcro was invented in 1941 when a Swiss engineer looked at the shape of burrs as he removed them from his dog, and made a new fabric that used that same shape. What is this an example of?

• Biomimicry

• Bio-utilization

• Bio-assistance

• Biomorphic

Multiple Choice

Dan changes his flooring from linoleum to bamboo. What is this an example of?

• Biomimicry

• Bio-utilization

• Bio-assistance

• Biomorphic

Multiple Choice

Lisa makes a plate that is shaped like a leaf. What is this an example of

• Biomimicry

• Bio-utilization

• Bio-assistance

• Biomorphic

How to Biomimicry?

• There are three primary levels of biomimicry that people can look to

  • Level 1: Mimicking the Natural Form

    • Looking at an organism and copying the design

      • Does not necessarily have to be one to one

How to Biomimicry?

• There are three primary levels of biomimicry that people can look to

  • Level 2: Mimicking the Natural Process

    • Looking at how an organism does what it does

      • Trying to do things at low temperatures and with minimal chemicals

How to Biomimicry?

• There are three primary levels of biomimicry that people can look to

  • Level 2: Mimicking the Ecosystem

    • Looking at how an organism relates with everything around it

      • Requires collaboration

Open Ended

Write a paragraph summarizing your thoughts, questions, and concerns about what was talked about in this lesson.