Biomimicry Innovations and Solutions
Nature creates. Nature grows. Nature adapts. Nature regenerates. Nature reincarnates. In this world of constant change, what can we learn from her?
Biomimicry is our way to harness nature’s wisdom to develop new products, processes and policies for better living. Worldwide, innovators and investors are now drawing inspiration from nature for sustainable solutions in architecture, engineering, medicine and all kinds of fields. By understanding the mechanisms and interconnectedness of life on earth, we can design ways to shelter, heal, nourish and connect using the resources we have with respect to the communities and wildlife whose homes we share.
Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash
In Africa, South Asia and Australia, certain termite species are known to build nests, some more than 30 feet tall, out of what appears to be a heap of thick, suffocating, dry, hard dirt. But with a closer look, this structure is a home that naturally self-regulates temperatures, gases and humidity through a complex system of pores and tunnels made from the materials the termites find. In Zimbabwe, architects have designed a building which can save up to 90 percent more energy compared to the average, adopting this ingenious blueprint for natural ventilation.
Photo by Maros Misove on Unsplash
If there is one powerhouse for all life on our planet, that would be the sun. And the one organism capable of directly harvesting this energy? Leaves. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert light, carbon dioxide and water into the oxygen and energy which we depend on. Inspired by this, scientists are now developing dyes which can absorb photons from the sun and collect this energy in the form of nanoparticles, providing an environmentally-friendly alternative to the toxic byproducts of today’s solar panels.
Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash
From afar, a prairie might look like a field of nothing but grass. But rather, it is an entire ecosystem supporting a vast range of species of plants and insects, each with important roles of their own, from soil fertilisation to population control. It is thanks to their diversity that, as one species dies off, the other is able to live on, giving them resilience to disturbances such as disease outbreaks, climate change and human activity. And despite their differences, they live and work together to support a productive environment and community. In Lebanon, an initiative is bridging the gap between refugees and host communities by forming joint committees in which members collaborate to improve the living conditions of their neighbourhoods. What was once a place of communal tension and conflict, is now transformed into the strength of a combined effort to better the home they share.
As we move forward into many unknown challenges awaiting our civilization, it begs the question: what can we learn from the billions of years of nature’s evolution to prepare for the future? How can we produce materials which are flexible and durable in the face of climate change? How can we design cities that consider and enhance public health and foster resilience in both the Covid era and beyond? How can we interact, communicate and collaborate in building our shelters, powering our homes and cementing our symbiotic relationships?
Nature has the answers - we just have to listen.
Author(s) - Nanticha Ocharoenchai
