Biomimicry - Natures solutions to day to day problems
Biomimicry - a place where nature and technology meet.
Biomimicry
is a discipline that strives to find sustainable solutions for day to day
problems by studying and emulating living systems that have been developed
within the natural world. There are many
examples of this concept in action such as, solar powered cells that are
inspired by the wondrous design of the garden variety leaf, and even greenhouses
that utilize seawater[i]
in order to harvest water which mimic beetles which collect dew from the ocean
air. The marvel of Biomimicry is that it
allows us to address real world problems utilizing tried and tested technology
developed by nature over a process of millions of years. The question is, what
type of mind set is required to become an effective biomimic in a world that is
suffering from sever environmental challenges.
There is a
well know axiom that says, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"; the counter
argument to this must be, "if it isn't working - change it". In the context of biomimicry,
both ideas are equally valid. Nature's 3.8 million year design process has
provided a treasure trove of working systems that have more than adequately
sustained life. Access to these systems requires firstly, an innate respect for
the fact that Mother Nature has indeed "got it right". Secondly, one must be aware that such systems
exist or must be so embroiled within the natural world, that the serendipitous
becomes possible. Lastly, a good
understanding of natural science helps. With this ground work complete, it is
possible start to approach the second part of the question - "how can I address
a problem for which a man made solutions are not solving"?
Recently, I
read an article by columnist Abre J Stein in the Farmer's Weekly[ii]
about the age old problem of animals such as the Black Backed Jackal predating agricultural
stock. Stein goes to pains to point out that while new methods to control these
so called "pests" are controversial, the tried and tested ritual of trapping,
poisoning or shooting the animals has
not worked, i.e. farmers are still suffering from stock losses. The author
points out, that farmers could turn to nature for help, such as introducing
another competitor or predator into the system. He sites a range of options
including Anatolian mountain dogs, ostriches and even donkeys that possessively
watch after stock. After watching the emotive exchanges between the different
parties within the debate, it becomes
clear that the traditionalists have great
difficulty accepting that it is time to turn to an out of the box solution. It
is likely that the only time these diehards will change, is after sever pain is
inflicted upon them, such as massive crop failures, stock losses and a good
dose global economic meltdown.
For those
of us that are willing to dig under the rock outside our door and acknowledge
that if we are going to survive a future that already includes mass extinction,
increased global temperatures and shortages of water, it is clear that nature
can provide the way forward. The challenge becomes,
" how do I activate the
ability to become a biomimic in my life"? The first step is the most simple - introduce your five senses to the
natural world. If fact, young children are masters at this skill; testing,
prodding and tasting every savoury lump of mud available. As city dwellers we
have the benefit of interacting with domestic dogs, cats and witnessing the
spectacle of the lowly weed displacing a block of concrete in the road.
There are
also a number of resources explaining biomimicry. An excellent first step is
the ground breaking book, Biomimicry Innovation Inspired by Nature[iii]
by Janine M Benyus. Benuys is one of the pioneers of biomimicry, and uses the book
to eloquently provide the philosophy of biomimicry, and explore in great detail
some of the fascinating biomimic research that has been conducted; including
the use of grasslands as grain producing food baskets and the study of molluscs
in order to make super hard ceramics. While I am not suggesting that you and I
should don white lab coats and begin to savour the algae in our neighbour's
swimming pool as a food source, I am suggesting that it is valuable to study
these examples in order to stimulate our imaginations by seeing what is in the
realms of the possible.
There are also a number of excellent online
resources and in fact an online biomimic community. With a little research, and
a good dose of time spent interacting with the natural world the doors to
biomimicry begin to open. Below are a few online keys to help open the biomimicry
code.
