Biomimicry - The Future of Sustainable Innovation
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This document discusses biomimicry and how nature can inspire more sustainable solutions. It begins by outlining the current environmental impacts of human activity and the biotic crisis facing the planet. It then examines key principles found in nature, such as how natural systems operate within Earth's limited resources. Several case studies are presented that illustrate how biomimicry has been applied to problems in various industries, including energy generation, surface coatings, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and construction. Overall, the document promotes consciously emulating nature's designs, processes, and ecosystems to develop more sustainable technologies and systems that respect environmental limits.
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Biomimicry - The Future of Sustainable Innovation
- 1. Pius Leuba dit Galland 雷朴实 Assoc. Prof./ Director BiDL Biomime9c Design Lab D&I, TongJi University Biomimicry – The Future of Sustainable Innovation! Shanghai Green Drinks | Game Changers Series!
- 3. Human exploitation! “Directly or indirectly, the human species already captures nearly 40% of the total biological productivity on land and 70% of the productivity of the marine environment […]. The rate of increase in human use is about 2% per year.” ! http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/human-conditions.php “Oceans' Fish Could Disappear by 2050” May 17, 2010, by AFP: http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/oceans-fish-fishing-industry.htm
- 4. The biotic crisis! “…planet Earth has begun the 6th great biological extinction period in its 4.5 billion year history. Previous extinction events reduced biodiversity by up to 70-90%. After past events, recovery took roughly 5 million years. ! However, the current depletion […] of tropical forests, wetlands, estuaries and coral reefs (“engines of biodiversity”), may have profound effects on the evolutionary processes that have previously fostered re-diversification. Even our largest protected areas will be far too small for the further speciation of large vertebrates. ! ! On the time scale of the human species, this environmental disruption (or at least aspects of it) is permanent.! http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/human-conditions.php (Note: Our modern human species is about 20,0000 years old)!
- 5. Nature taps the power of limits! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1. Earth’s Water! 2. Earth’s Atmosphere! 3. Earth’s Landmass! © Adam Neiman These 3 spheres are Earth’s only life resources. It’s where life succeeded to evolve for 3.8 billion years. It’s also where we put all our waste & toxins. !
- 6. Pearce, F., 2010, Earth’s Nine Lives, New Scientist, 27 Feb., vol. 205, no 2749, pp 31-35 Nature, September, 2009 Scientific American, April, 2010 Earth’s Life Cycles! Level of (irreparable?) damage to Earth’s life support systems! !
- 7. EPI Environmental Performance Index 2014! http://epi.yale.edu/ 118. China 1. Switzerland
- 8. Switzerland’s Ecological Footprint! Switzerland's footprint is more than four times larger than its biocapacity: 5 global hectares (gha) per capita vs. a biocapacity of only 1.2 gha per capita.! ! An average person living in Switzerland needs 2.4 Planet Earths.! ! ! Swiss Federal Statistical Office: Sustainable development. 2010
- 9. Our Extinction?! It is estimated that only 0.1% of all species that ever existed are still alive today. 99.9% are extinct. ! ! Only the most adapted ones survive. ! ! Due to human impact, current extinction rates are about 1000 times higher than in previous millennia.! ! Are we well adapted or mal-adapted to Earth’s circumstances?! Bishop's O`o 1915
- 10. Acknowledge that we need to restore what we’ve destroyed,! before we can even talk about sustaining it! Regeneration! Change from Dominator to Benefactor ! – for our own sake!! Every action/project needs to leave our environment a better place than what we found it. Not ‘less bad’ but ‘more good’ à POSITIVE IMPACT!
- 11. But where to learn from?!
- 12. Nature seems the only true sustainable example!
- 13. Single-Celled Organisms! • 2.5 billion years old • S9ll around today • Features feedback loops (learn, adapt…) • No human ar9fact does that http://voices.nationalgeographic.com, picture by by Aaron J. Bell, Science Source
- 14. Human vs. natural processes! Biomimetics - its practice and theory- Vincent-J. R. Soc. Interface. 2006-471-82 “At size levels of up to 1m, where most technology is sited, the most important variable for the solution of a problem is manipulation of energy usage […], closely followed by use of material.”! ! “… in biology the most important variables for the solution of problems at these scales are information and structure”! Humans: Nature:
- 15. Truly sustainable building/artifact! • Earthquake proof! • Water/Wind/Sun proof! • Predator proof! • Optimal size! • Minimal materials (1x)! • Soft/comfortable/cool! • Easily accessible! • Self-timed, automatic, benign disassembly! • No-Tech! • Zero external energy! • Zero toxins! • …! Weaver bird nest
- 16. Green Chemistry! People have produced over 300 polymers! ! “Nature works with five polymers. Only five polymers.”! ----Janine Benyus
- 17. Elements found in nature-made organisms (28):! Nature works primarily with:! ! ! ! ! ! Partially with:! ! ! ! Metals that are present in our bodies, but only as trace elements:! ! ! ! Again metals, but in trace amounts only in few living species! C H N O Ca Cl Mg P K Na S Co Cu Fe Mn Zn Il As B Br Cr F Ga I Mo Se Si V Magnesium. Humans: 0.05%
- 18. WE ARE NATURE !! • We contain single celled organisms and depend on them! • Innumerable benign chemical processes are constantly occurring within us! • We are the pinnacle of natural evolution – but we need to act that way! • Will we be able to bring nature/life/evolution to a completely new level?!
- 19. water efficiency resilient structure marketing and advertising self-shading shape Self-assembly through solar power zero waste protection / security Self-organization and optimization No-tech recycling how can this eco-system inspire your next task?!
- 20. Biomimicry!
- 21. BIOMIMICRY! 仿生学! ancient practice & emerging discipline! 古代练习与进化训练! ! ! ! ! ! ! “I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology.”! ----Steve Jobs
- 22. Biomimicry Definition! Conscious emulation of natures’ genius 自然基因的自觉仿真! ! • Intended! • ≠ copy! • Expertise of 3.8 billion years x 30 million species! ! ! "Biomimicry is learning from and then emulating natural forms, processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs."! ! ----A Biomimicry Primer, Janine M. Benyus, The Biomimicry Institute and the Biomimicry Guild, 2011
- 24. case studies : product design could this be glue without chemicals? gecko tape
- 25. Zebra: air convec9on through temperature gradient Process: non-‐mechanical cooling system how could a zebra inspire your non-‐ mechanical, individual cooling strategy?
- 26. how could bees inspire your management style? Swarm-‐inspired innova9ve leadership: bioteams Process: instant & permanent chemical communica9on
- 27. Could this be a subway map? slime mold generated Tokyo rail map Systemic: Instant Demand & Supply
- 28. Could this be a model for your firm’s manufacturing system? Localiza9on & connec9ons Systemic: Proximity of resource & users
- 29. could this be a model for a mixed-‐use, sustainable neighborhood? symbiosis and shared use Systemic: Mutual benefits through resource cycles
- 30. Case studies!
- 31. DYESOL – Man-made photosynthesis! Get energy without fossil fuel! 不用矿物燃料得到能源! ! • Uses only solar energy! • Uses photosynthesis (not creating electricity, splits water!)! • Creates chemical energy, not physical! • Dyesol: sandwiched glass with dye between, acts like photosynthesis to create small current, in any location, position and lighting levels!
- 32. Lotusan I Mincor – repel water and dirt! Self-clean without chemicals! 不用化学剂实现自我清洁! ! Many large-winged insects and plant surfaces remain dirt-free without chemical detergents or expending energy, simply by how their complex surface topography affects physics of water molecules…”! • Water rolls over bumps! • Carries away impurities! • Lotus effect! !
- 33. BASF I Sharklet – prevent bacteria & parasites! Self-clean without chemicals! 不用化学剂实现自我清洁! ! • Galapagos shark! • Algae and bacteria deposits! • Skin structure does not allow to get a grip! • Useful for hospitals, labs, doorknobs, handrails!
- 34. Mirasol | Qualcomm – Structural colors Color without pigment! 不用涂料上色! ! Morpho butterflies display a life-long, vibrant blue, without paint or color. Their wing scales contain many protein layers that refract light in selected ways. Color we see is due to the play of light and structure instead of pigments.”! Wavelengths of unwanted colors cancel each other out (light interference).! http://www.asknature.org/#
- 35. XYLEM STRUCTURE - Raise water without pump! Synthetic Tree, by Cornell & Kate McCulloh, Univ. of Utah! ! • High-rise water pumping needs lots of energy! • Redwoods are 100m tall! • Every leaf has stomata (pores)! • Evaporation of water creates low pressure (vacuum)! • Vision is to create ‘wallpaper’ for bringing water up buildings!
- 36. Daimler-Benz Bionic car – Material optimization! Maximize strength while minimizing material! 物尽其用 Trees only add material where strength is needed. Bones remove material where it's not used, optimizing structure for dynamic workloads.! Boxfish form for aerodynamics (no drag & turbulences).! SKO soft-kill option & CAO computer-aided optimizing. Increased stability & safety.! Reduced material & weight by 40-60%.! CAO & SKO, Karlsruhe Research Centre
- 37. Namibian Desert Beetle – Liquefy humidity ! Fog-basking beetle inspired evaporators and condensers! ! • Exoskeleton contains hydrophilic bumps and hydrophobic valleys! • Morning fog from Ocean! • Stand vertical into the wind on top of hills! • Water drop forms until gravity brings it to its mouth! !
- 38. Grimshaw I MIT I QinetiQ – Liquefy humidity ! The Water Theatre, ! Las Palmas, Design 2005! ! Airborne moisture from the evaporators is then collected from the condensers, which are cooled by deep seawater.! !
- 39. Carolyn Dry - Self Healing Concrete! Self-heal, self-maintenance! ! • Rhino horn! • Non-living tissue! • Protein-release which fills the crack! • Microscopic resin capsules in concrete! Carolyn Dry, Natural Process Design Inc. (Univ. of Indiana)!
- 42. Emulation Level 1: Form! Form can be seen with your eye, something you can measure (kingfisher beak shape for a train tip.)! Kingfisher beak shape inspired shinkansen train tip.!
- 43. Emulation Level 2: Process! The train tip material may still be toxic. How to create the same beak at ambient conditions, no-tech, with the resources that immediately surround you?! Calera binds half a ton of CO2 when producing a ton of concrete, vs. emitting one ton of CO2.! • About 200% stronger than our toughest high-tech ceramics! Abalone shell! • made out of chalk (calcium carbonate) and protein!
- 44. Emulation Level 3: (Eco-)Systems! Kalundborg industrial symbiosis, Denmark! Upcycle ‘Waste’ as nutrients! ! How is the beak in relationship to the bird, to the tree, to the forest, to the biosphere, to the planet?!
- 45. Fundamentals!
- 46. ethos! ethics, moral, philosophy; respect for all life forms.! 'FIT IN' on earth; survive and be a beneficial species; 'create conditions conducive to life’! emulate! nature as model, mentor and measure (≠ copy, but learning & applying)! (re)connect! discover life's genius, quieting human intelligence & listening to nature, rediscover relationship with nature ! Essential Elements - ‘Seeds’ of Biomimicry! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 47. Life’s Principles 生命的原则! Overarching patterns found amongst all species surviving and thriving on Earth! ! 6 master principles ! 26 overall principles! ! Operating conditions:! 1. Limits and boundaries (the 3 balls)! 2. Gravity, sunlight and water, size restraints…! 3. Cyclic processes! 4. Dynamic non- equilibrium! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 48. Life’s Principles 生命的原则! Evolve to survive 为生存而进化 Be resource efficient 有效的再生资源 Adapt to changing conditions 适应变化的环境 Integrate development with growth 整合增长与发展 Be locally attuned and responsive 与当地协调并适应 Use life friendly chemistry 利用有利生命的化学品! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 49. Life’s Principles! Life creates conditions conducive to Life…! 创造有益于生活的环境! ! ! ! The principles can act as ! • Model: innovative strategies! • Mentor: aspirational ideals! • Measure: sustainable benchmarks! ! ! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 50. Life’s Principles! Life creates conditions conducive to Life…! 创造有益于生活的环境! ! ! ! The principles can act as ! • Model: innovative strategies! • Mentor: aspirational ideals! • Measure: sustainable benchmarks! ! ! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 51. The method!
- 52. Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking! While akin to a methodology, Biomimicry Thinking is a framework that is intended to help people practice biomimicry while designing anything. There are four areas in which a biomimicry lens provides the greatest value to the design process:! ! Scoping! Discovering! Creating! Evaluating! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 53. Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking! SCOPING! • DEFINE Context ! • IDENTIFY Function ! • INTEGRATE Life’s Principles ! DISCOVERING! • DISCOVER Bio-Models ! • ABSTRACT Design Strategies! CREATING! • BRAINSTORMING Bio- Inspired Concepts! • EMULATE Nature’s Strategies ! EVALUATING! • MEASURE! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 54. Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking! Challenge to Biology! ! 1. IDENTIFY Function ! 2. DEFINE Context ! 3. BIOLOGIZE Challenge ! 4. DISCOVER Natural Models ! 5. ABSTRACT into Design Principles ! 6. EMULATE Nature’s Strategies ! 7. EVALUATE against Life’s Principles ! ! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 55. Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking! Biology to Design! ! 1. DISCOVER Natural Models ! 2. ABSTRACT Design Principles ! 3. BRAINSTORM Potential Applications ! 4. EMULATE Nature’s Strategies ! 5. EVALUATE against Life’s Principles! B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
- 56. Tools!
- 57. Biomimicry Taxonomy (actions, functions)!
- 60. Thank You!! Links:! • www.Biomimicry.net! • www.Biomimicry.org ! • www.Asknature.org ! • www.EOL.org ! Biomimicry in China:! • http://bidl.tongji.edu.cn ! • http://bidl.tongji.edu.cn/ wiki! • bidltj@tongji.edu.cn ! ! Books:! • Biomimicry – Innovation Inspired by Nature, by Janine Benyus! • Biomimicry in Architecture, by Michael Pawlyn! • The Gecko's Foot: Bio-inspiration - Engineering New Materials from Nature, by Peter Forbes! • Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies, by Yoseph Bar-Cohen! • TED talks, formal education (Bpro, Bspec), workshops, …!