Biomimicry

Biomimicry is a science that studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems. It introduces an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world but on what we can learn from it. Hereby I share some interesting findings from the book of Janine Benyus.

Over billions of years, natural selection has come up with winning strategies adopted by all complex, mature ecosystems. The strategies in the following list are tried-and true approaches to the mystery of surviving in place. Organisms in a mature ecosystem:

1. Use waste as a resource
2. Diversify and cooperate to fully use the habitat.
3. Gather and use energy efficiently
4. Optimize rather than maximize
5. Use materials sparingly
6. Don’t foul their nests
7. Don’t draw down resources
8. Remain in balance with the biosphere
9. Run on information
10. Shop locally

For too long, we have judged our innovations by whether they are good for us (mostly in a profitable sense) Now we have to put what is good for life first, and trust that it will be good for us. The new questions towards innovation should be the following, answered by ‘yes’.

• Will it fit in?
  
• Will it last?
  
• Is there a precedent for this in nature?
  
• Does it run on sunlight?
  
• Does it use only the energy it needs?
  
• Does it fit form to function?
  
• Does it recycle everything?
  
• Does it reward cooperation?
  
• Does it bank on diversity?
  
• Does it utilize local expertise?
  
• Does it curb excess from within?
  
• Does it tap the power of limits?
  
• Is it beautiful?

Ask nature for design solutions on: http://www.asknature.org/

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Summarized from the book: Biomimicry, Innovation inspired by nature, Janine M. Benyus, 2003