Janine Benyus provides examples of biomimicry
In the world envisioned by science author Janine Benyus, a locust’s ability to avoid collision within a roiling cloud of its brethren informs the design of a crash-resistant car; a self-cleaning leaf inspires a new kind of paint, one that dries in a pattern that enables simple rainwater to wash away dirt; and organisms capable of living without water open the way for vaccines that maintain potency even without refrigeration — a hurdle that can prevent life-saving drugs from reaching disease-torn communities.
Most important, these cool tools from nature pull off their tricks while still managing to preserve the environment that sustains them, a life-or-death lesson that humankind is in need of learning.
Much more than a reporter, Benyus is a champion of biomimicry; she’s become one of the most important voices in a new wave of designers and engineers inspired by nature.
Watch video on:
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/18
Definition BIOMIMICRY: Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a relatively new science that studies nature, its models, systems, processes and elements and then imitates or takes creative inspiration from them to solve human problems sustainably.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
If you are interested in Janine Benyus and learning more about biomimicry please visit The Biomimicry Institute and The Biomimicry Guild for more information.