What?
Biomimicry is an evolving cross-disciplinary practice that learn from and mimics the strategies, evolvement, characteristics in nature to solve societal design challenges.
Learning objectives?
My ambition is to integrate biomimicry into my work and mind-set through asking how nature would solve a challenge, be inspired by its genius and utilise its innovation.
How?
I fuse training courses with online resources like articles, documentaries, books, newsletters and e-courses. On this evolving page I share my progress, tools and material.
”After 3.8 billion years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to our survival”
Janine Benyus, Founder Biomimicry Institute
Basic principles of biomimicry: 1. Nature runs on sunlight 2. Nature uses only the energy it needs 3. Nature fits form to function 4. Nature recycles everything 5. Nature rewards cooperation 6. Nature banks on diversity 7. Nature demands local expertise 8. Nature curbs excesses from within 9. Nature taps the power of limits
”We must draw our standars from the natural world. We must honour with the humility of the wise the bounds of that natural world and the mystery which lies beyond them, admitting that there is something in the order of being which evidently exceeds all our competence”
Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechia, writer and environmentalist
Links to biomimicry resources:
Articles & Books:
Benyus, J. M. (1997). Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.
Harman, J. (2013). The Shark’s Paintbrush: Biomimicry and How Nature is Inspiring Innovation.
Tazzi, F. (2017). Biomimicry in Organizations: Business Management Inspired by Nature.
Courses:
Introduction to Biomimicry course Free online course that offers certification, catered on individual level
30 Days of Reconnection Method that promotes resilience, innovation and critical thinking
Biomimicry toolkit Free resource with sheets and case studies
Websites:
Biomimicry Institute: https://biomimicry.org/
Ask Nature search engine: https://asknature.org/
Biomimicry 3.8: https://biomimicry.net/
Videos & Documentaries:
Biomimicry short introduction video
Biomimicry’s surprising lessons from nature’s engineers a TED talk by Janine Benyus
Fantastic Fungi documentary on the complexities, healing power and importance of fungus
Other:
Na2ure pattern alphabet promoting visual literacy and spatial learning through patterns in nature