Learning from Nature
The natural world does a lot of work maintaining the conditions necessary for life. We call this work Ecosystem Services.
Learning about how these services are achieved and replicating those processes using technology is called Biomimetics.
Read more below to learn about how we developed our Ecosystems Services framework and what we know about how nature achieves these functions.
Nature as a necessary muse…
Under construction
Follow along for updates and developments
A Biomimicry story
It’s important to us as storytellers to start at the beginning. Perhaps this is why there are so many different versions of the beginning of biomimicry. Whether it is the one about da Vinci watching birds fly, or a man walking with his dog inadvertently collecting burrs; the story of the beginning of biomimicry most certainly predates them all.
Humans are inexplicably intertwined with the natural world. We are experts in observing it, shaping it, and harming it. We are healthier when connected to nature. We are inspired by what we experience in nature. We have been learning from nature for longer than our lineage has been human.
Biomimetics (aka biomimicry) is the transfer of the wisdom of natural systems to application in human culture. We see evidence of biomimetics in the technology that we design, the artistic creations that we admire, and even in the way that we teach our children. The wisdom of nature can be a powerful source of ideas and solutions.
Here’s are some examples.
Self-cleaning, dirt and water repellant fabric finishes that mimic the structure of the lotus leaf.
A modified leading edge of a wind turbine blade to reduce turbulence that mimics the pectoral fin of a humpback whale.
Choosing to solve a problem by changing the way that information is managed rather than by increasing resource and energy use to mimic the way that natural systems ‘solve’ problems.
Defining the Discipline
The formalization of the discipline of biomimetics began in the mid 1900s. Many different groups were interested in the concept, from engineers looking for a near endless source of creative solutions to Earthly problems, to community groups wanting to more sustainably minded projects.
Some said that biomimetics is a Method and that, once formalized, it could be reproduced and scaled to infiltrate all industrial processes. Several companies developed training camps or schools, certification programs, consultation packages, and workshops to promote the development of a ‘method’.
Some said that biomimetics (biomimicry) is about mindset, a type of biophilia, where we are connected to nature as a student is to a teacher. The focus is on developing a relationship with nature such that a person becomes influenced by the wisdom of natural systems in their daily work. A small tourism industry was built around learning about nature-inspired solutions, with the intention that the clients would become inspired by something that they experienced.
Some said that biomimetics is an emerging super-discipline that recognizes the entanglement of many established disciplines such as business, engineering, and biology. (Okay, that was us, we said this). Biomimetics has facts, methods, problems, and people associated with its practice. All of these are defining characteristics of well-established disciplines. Most university training programs in biomimetics are housed within engineering schools and there is a growing demand for such training.
Here are examples:
University of Akron - Biomimicry Research Innovation Centre Fellowship - PhD level - USA
Hochschule Bremen - International Degree Programme in Biomimetics - BSc level - Germany
Because biomimetics is about reproducing the function of a biological system using technology, and because the ecosystem services are biological systems that are failing, biomimetics will become an obligate design process in our future.
- S. Jacobs
Shoshanah Jacobs
Kristina Wanieck
Mark Lipton
Daniel Gillis
Elizabeth Porter
Nikoleta Zampaki
Mind Summers
Claudia Rivera
Christopher Collens
Marjan Eggermont
Karina Benessaiah
Christina Smylitopoulos
Adam Davies
Marsha Hinds Myrie
Alex Smith
Dave Dowhaniuk
Andria Jones
Julie Lindsey
Dawn Bazely
Michael Helms
Giselle Carr
Heather Clitheroe
Peggy Karpouzou
Shoshanah Jacobs Kristina Wanieck Mark Lipton Daniel Gillis Elizabeth Porter Nikoleta Zampaki Mind Summers Claudia Rivera Christopher Collens Marjan Eggermont Karina Benessaiah Christina Smylitopoulos Adam Davies Marsha Hinds Myrie Alex Smith Dave Dowhaniuk Andria Jones Julie Lindsey Dawn Bazely Michael Helms Giselle Carr Heather Clitheroe Peggy Karpouzou
Methods
Biomimetics has been shaped by two different approaches. Problem-based biomimetics begins with a problem to solve. Designers analyse that problem to fully understand it, and then look for biological models for potential solutions. These solutions are refined and further studied before an abstraction is transferred to the solve the problem.
There are many tools that support designers in this process. Categories of tools include taxonomies, ontologies, algorithms, thesauri, and static catalogues. Most of the tools are best used at specific stages of the design process (see below for an example). A 2017 list of 43 tools is available here.
Curiously, when we asked biomimetic practitioners how many biological models they had considered before selecting the one associated with their technology, the average number of models was 1.4.
The other approach is solution based, beginning with the observation of a natural system solving a problem. Once the mechanism of the functionality is understood, it can then be abstracted to a technological problem. Sometimes the problem in search of a solution is obvious. Sometimes not. Curating and making accessible these solutions in search of a problem is a an ongoing challenge.
“the benefits people obtain from ecosystems”
“the aspects of ecosystems utilized to produce human well-begin”
“the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfill human life”
Daily (1997)
“ecosystem characteristics, functions, or processes that contribute to sustainable human well-being”
Ecosystems provide important life-sustaining services
Biodiversity -
Biodiversity is the diversity among species and within genomes in a defined region. It is the source of variation that maintains resilience to disturbance. It is the source of novel natural solutions.
Fuel -
Fuel refers to the materials required to generate energy. It covers both sustainable and non-sustainable forms of energy.
Atmospheric regulation -
Atmospheric regulation includes both the production and consumption of essential molecules such as oxygen. A very narrow range of concentrations of these gasses in the atmosphere can support life.
Disease Regulation -
Natural systems have evolved ways to reduce the spread of human disease and disease vectors. As they break down, the crossover of disease among species increases, putting human populations in danger.
Pollination -
The vectors of pollination include insects, mammals, other animals, winds, and water. They unintentionally pick up the reproductive cells of plants and distribute them. The majority of flowering plants, including fruits and vegetables, rely on pollinators for reproduction.
Aesthetics -
Experiencing natural beauty, whether its seeing a peaceful landscape, or smelling a sweet flower, can bring mental and emotional well-being.
Cultural Identity -
The ways of human life are deeply connected to the contextual landscape. We are nomadic, sedentary, aquatic, and aerial. How we live and who we are is defined by our habitat.
Food -
Food is derived from naturally occurring ingredients from both wild and domesticated habitats. It is the fuel of biological systems.
Fibre/Hide/Wood -
Fibre, hides, and wood provide essential materials for clothing, construction, and tools. The human species is deeply connected to tools and the built environment.
Climate Regulation -
Stable climatic conditions reduce stress on biological systems. Ecosystems have buffering systems built-in to reduce the highs and lows of conditions.
Water Regulation -
Water is not evenly distributed around the globe. There are natural mechanisms that regulate how much water is where. Systems have evolved in the context of that natural distribution.
Spiritual Support -
Ecosystems support the spiritual lives of people in a diversity of ways. The history of our spiritual connection to land and place extends beyond our species and we cannot separate them.
Inspiration/education -
The natural world is an important source of inspiration and education. The field of Biomimetics operates within this ecosystem service, providing access to millions of nature-inspired solutions
Soil Formation -
Soil serves the natural world by supporting the life of plants, insects, other invertebrates, and bacteria while maintaining a seed library, filtering water, and storing carbon.
Primary Production -
Primary production is the mechanism by which sunlight is used to make sugars. This is the foundation of the natural world.
Potable Water -
Potable water is life-sustaining. It is defined as the freshwater that is safe to consume. Fresh water is a dominant component of biological systems.
Biochemicals -
Biochemicals are naturally occurring molecules that are used in medicines. Their use both improves quality of life and extends life.
Coastline Regulation -
Stabilizing coastal lands prevents important resources such as food and habitat from washing into the sea.
Waste treatment -
Filtering and treating waste products keeps our natural systems sustainable. When these processes slow down, waste will accumulate.
Recreation -
Recreation supports the physical and mental well-being of human populations. It’s not only about exercise. Getting out in nature is good for us.
Cultural Heritage -
The practice of culture places value on the various elements of the natural world. Some are more valuable than others. These historically important resources must be maintained to preserve their value
Nutrient Cycling -
Nutrients are always on the move throughout natural systems. As energy transfers from plants to carnivores, so too do nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin C.
---- Ecosystem in a Jar ---- Winogradsky Columns
---- Ecosystem in a Jar ---- Winogradsky Columns
Who was Sergei Winogradsky (1856-1953)? He was a microbiologist who created a way for us to see bacterial ecosystems in jars and how they change over time.
Manufactured Ecosystems is doing BioArt with Winogradsky Columns. Watch this space for more.