This purpose of this site is provide information about biomimicry to be used by educators.

Biomimicry (also biomimickry) is the conscious copying of examples and mechanisms from natural organisms and ecologies. It is a form of applied case-based reasoning, treating nature itself as a database of solutions that already work. Proponents argue that all natural life forms minimize and ecological niches remove failures. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimicry, 2005)

Biomimicry is an excellent tool to use for problem solving and critical thinking. In addition it is a solution oriented lesson in an often "doom and gloom" outlook on environmental problems.

Students exploring and applying the concept of biomimicry can integrate the idea on many different levels:

1. Conceptual/ Big Picture Level:

For example: One could look at the fact that desert plants store water and decide that in the building on homes in the desert it would be a good idea to have a water storage system.

This is a borrowing of a concept, but the -how do the plants store the water is not necessarily explored.

2. The Process level (literal):

In this case we are asking how does nature do it:

This can either be a micro-- examination of biochemical process such as--How does the abalone make its incredibly resiliant mother of pearl lining (nacre)?

Or it can be a systemic investigation--How does a praire continue to grow and maintain soils without pesticides and fertilizers?

(see www.thelandinstitute.org)

3. The material level (idea):

For example: Scientists might study Geckos because they want to have the ability to make adhesives that stick to any surface. They may even examine how the geckos are able to do this. However the final material may be a plastic that models the physics of Gecko toes.

(see Gecko -under examples)

4. The material meets process (literal):

For example: In this case, not only would the scientists study the physics and structural design of the Gecko toes' ability to stick; but they would also examine how the material was generated and what life-friendly materials were used. Therefore the final product would be just like Gecko toe pads- made of Keratin

(see Gecko -under examples;

also see Along Came a Spider, by Janine Benyus. Sierra. 86(4), 46, 2p,2c. http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200107/benyus.asp )

* If you want more background on WHY BIOMIMICRY in the classroom?