Lab+8

 
 * __Lab #8 - Biomimicry: Janine Benyus and the Biomimicry Institute and Guild __**


 * __Janine Benyus’ Biomimicry Principles: My Four Favourite Product Designs__**

//__Avian Elements__// This product design uses two forms of biomimicry. The designers mimic the feathers of an owl and create grooves to reduce the noise in the train’s pantograph. The train’s nose also mimics the beak of a kingfisher. The nose helps reduce noise pollution, especially after the train has entered and exited a tunnel.

//__Echolocation__// This product design uses the biomimicry of bats. The cane sends sound waves in front of the person holding it. The cane provides a warning to the walker about upcoming objects or people. One assumes that the faster a signal is sent and returned to the cane, the closer the object. The opposite is said for a distant object.

//__Skeleton Key__// This product design uses the biomimicry of bones. Although a structure, in this case a chair, is hollow and uses fewer resources, it is still just as strong as a similar product. This biomimicry replicates the growth structure bones over time. The design is beneficial because it requires fewer wasted resources, while maintaining a strong structure.

//__Stanch the Bleeding__// This product uses the biomimicry of the platelets in the bloodstream. The platelets seal cuts in the veins as they flow through the bloodstream. This technology works similarly in pipes. Platelets flow through pipes looking for cracks and leaks. Once a crack or leak is found, the platelets stick to the inner pipe wall and seal the leak.

**__Define: “The simple, elegant mechanics developed by nature often make sense in a human context, too”​__**

According to Janine Benyus, this quote means that the mechanics of nature is capable of solving problems faced by humanity. She promotes biomimicry by taking a design/process and replicating it. People face problems that occur in nature. If people are open to biomimicry, and replicate nature, solutions to these problems can be attained.

Benyus has mentioned that animals, plants, and microscopic organisms all have their own specialties. They each do something very well, things humanity can learn from. People can learn and apply the ways of nature to problems that humanity has not yet been able to solve.

Biomimicry allows us to learn something from nature, and apply a solution to our complex problems. Sometimes the solution to a problem is literally under our noises. In the case of biomimicry, the solution is right outside our front door.