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Biomimicry – The Future of Sustainable Innovation
Shanghai Green Drinks | Game Changers Series
Pius Leuba dit Galland 雷朴实 Assoc. Prof./ Director BiDL Biomimetic Design Lab D&I, TongJi University
Our current impact
Human exploitation
“Directly or indirectly, the human species already captures nearly 40%
of the total biological productivity on land and 70% of the productivity of
the marine environment […]. The rate of increase in human use is about
2% per year.”
http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/human-conditions.php
“Oceans' Fish Could Disappear by 2050”
May 17, 2010, by AFP: http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/oceans-fish-fishing-industry.htm
The biotic crisis
“…planet Earth has begun the 6th great biological extinction period in its
4.5 billion year history. Previous extinction events reduced biodiversity
by up to 70-90%. After past events, recovery took roughly 5 million
years. !
However, the current depletion […] of tropical forests, wetlands,
estuaries and coral reefs (“engines of biodiversity”), may have profound
effects on the evolutionary processes that have previously fostered rediversification. Even our largest protected areas will be far too small for
the further speciation of large vertebrates. !
!
On the time scale of the human species, this environmental disruption
(or at least aspects of it) is permanent.
http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/human-conditions.php
(Note: Our modern human species is about 20,0000 years old)
Nature taps the power of limits
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1. Earth’s Water!
2. Earth’s Atmosphere!
3. Earth’s Landmass
© Adam Neiman
These 3 spheres are Earth’s only life
resources. It’s where life succeeded to
evolve for 3.8 billion years. It’s also
where we put all our waste & toxins.
Earth’s Life Cycles
Level of (irreparable?)
damage to Earth’s life
support systems
Scientific American, April, 2010
Nature, September, 2009
Pearce, F., 2010, Earth’s Nine Lives, New Scientist, 27 Feb., vol. 205, no 2749, pp 31-35
EPI Environmental Performance Index 2014
1. Switzerland
118. China
http://epi.yale.edu/
Switzerland’s Ecological Footprint
Switzerland's footprint is
more than four times larger
than its biocapacity: 5 global
hectares (gha) per capita vs.
a biocapacity of only 1.2 gha
per capita.!
!
An average person living in
Switzerland needs 2.4 Planet
Earths.
Swiss Federal Statistical Office: Sustainable development. 2010
Our Extinction?
It is estimated that only 0.1% of all
species that ever existed are still alive
today. 99.9% are extinct. !
!
Only the most adapted ones survive. !
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Due to human impact, current extinction
rates are about 1000 times higher than in
previous millennia.!
!
Are we well adapted or mal-adapted to
Earth’s circumstances?
Bishop's O`o
1915
Regeneration
Acknowledge that we need to
restore what we’ve destroyed,!
before we can even talk about
sustaining it
Change from Dominator to Benefactor !
– for our own sake!
Every action/project needs to leave our environment a
better place than what we found it. Not ‘less bad’ but ‘more
good’ à POSITIVE IMPACT
But where to learn from?
Nature seems the only true sustainable example
Single-Celled Organisms
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2.5 billion years old Still around today Features feedback loops (learn, adapt…) No human artifact does that
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com, picture by by Aaron J. Bell, Science Source
Human vs. natural processes
Humans:
“At size levels of up to 1m,
where most technology is
sited, the most important
variable for the solution of a
problem is manipulation of
energy usage […], closely
followed by use of material.”!
!
Nature:
“… in biology the most
important variables for the
solution of problems at
these scales are information
and structure”
Biomimetics - its practice and theoryVincent-J. R. Soc. Interface. 2006-471-82
Truly sustainable building/artifact
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Weaver bird nest
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Earthquake proof!
Water/Wind/Sun proof!
Predator proof!
Optimal size!
Minimal materials (1x)!
Soft/comfortable/cool!
Easily accessible!
Self-timed, automatic,
benign disassembly!
No-Tech!
Zero external energy!
Zero toxins!
…
Green Chemistry
People have produced over 300 polymers! “Nature works with five polymers. Only
five polymers.”
!
----Janine Benyus
Elements found in nature-made organisms (28):
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Nature works primarily with:!
!
Partially with:!
C H N O
Metals that are present in our bodies, but only as trace elements:!
Magnesium.
Humans: 0.05%
Ca Cl Mg P K Na S
Co Cu Fe Mn Zn
Il As B Br Cr F Ga I Mo Se Si V
WE ARE NATURE !
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We contain single celled
organisms and depend
on them!
Innumerable benign
chemical processes are
constantly occurring
within us!
We are the pinnacle of
natural evolution – but we
need to act that way!
Will we be able to bring
nature/life/evolution to a
completely new level?
how can this eco-system inspire your next task?
protection /
security
Self-organization
and optimization
self-shading
shape
water efficiency
resilient
structure
marketing and
advertising
zero waste
Self-assembly through
solar power
No-tech recycling
Biomimicry
BIOMIMICRY
仿⽣生学!
ancient practice & emerging
discipline!
古代练习与进化训练!
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“I think the biggest
innovations of the 21st
century will be at the
intersection of biology and
technology.”
----Steve Jobs
Biomimicry Definition
Conscious emulation of natures’ genius
⾃自然基因的⾃自觉仿真!
!
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Intended!
≠ copy!
Expertise of 3.8 billion years x 30
million species!
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"Biomimicry is learning from and then
emulating natural forms, processes, and
ecosystems to create more sustainable
designs."
----A Biomimicry Primer, Janine M. Benyus,
The Biomimicry Institute and the Biomimicry
Guild, 2011
Natural Strategies
case studies : product design
gecko tape
could this be
glue without
chemicals?
Process: non-­‐mechanical cooling system
Zebra: air convection through temperature gradient
how could a zebra inspire your non-­‐
mechanical, individual cooling strategy?
Process: instant & permanent chemical communication
Swarm-­‐inspired innovative leadership: bioteams
how could bees inspire your management style? Systemic: Instant Demand & Supply
slime mold generated Tokyo rail map
Could this be a subway map?
Systemic: Proximity of resource & users
Localization & connections
Could this be a model for your firm’s manufacturing system?
Case studies
DYESOL – Man-made photosynthesis
Get energy without fossil fuel!
不⽤用矿物燃料得到能源!
!
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Uses only solar energy!
Uses photosynthesis
(not creating electricity,
splits water!)!
Creates chemical energy,
not physical!
Dyesol: sandwiched glass
with dye between, acts like
photosynthesis to create
small current, in any
location, position and
lighting levels
Lotusan I Mincor – repel water and dirt
Self-clean without chemicals!
不⽤用化学剂实现⾃自我清洁!
!
Many large-winged insects
and plant surfaces remain
dirt-free without chemical
detergents or expending
energy, simply by how their
complex surface topography
affects physics of water
molecules…”!
• Water rolls over bumps!
• Carries away impurities!
• Lotus effect
BASF I Sharklet – prevent bacteria & parasites
Self-clean without chemicals!
不⽤用化学剂实现⾃自我清洁!
!
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Galapagos shark!
Algae and bacteria
deposits!
Skin structure does not
allow to get a grip!
Useful for hospitals, labs,
doorknobs, handrails
Mirasol | Qualcomm – Structural colors
Color without pigment!
不⽤用涂料上⾊色!
!
Morpho butterflies display a
life-long, vibrant blue,
without paint or color. Their
wing scales contain many
protein layers that refract
light in selected ways. Color
we see is due to the play of
light and structure instead
of pigments.”!
Wavelengths of unwanted
colors cancel each other out
(light interference).
http://www.asknature.org/#
XYLEM STRUCTURE - Raise water without pump
Synthetic Tree, by Cornell &
Kate McCulloh, Univ. of Utah!
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High-rise water pumping
needs lots of energy!
Redwoods are 100m tall!
Every leaf has stomata
(pores)!
Evaporation of water
creates low pressure
(vacuum)!
Vision is to create
‘wallpaper’ for bringing
water up buildings
Daimler-Benz Bionic car – Material optimization
CAO & SKO, Karlsruhe Research Centre
Maximize strength while
minimizing material!
物尽其⽤用!
Trees only add material
where strength is needed.
Bones remove material
where it's not used,
optimizing structure for
dynamic workloads.!
Boxfish form for
aerodynamics (no drag &
turbulences).!
SKO soft-kill option & CAO
computer-aided optimizing.
Increased stability & safety.!
Reduced material & weight
by 40-60%.
Namibian Desert Beetle – Liquefy humidity
Fog-basking beetle inspired
evaporators and condensers!
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Exoskeleton contains
hydrophilic bumps and
hydrophobic valleys!
Morning fog from Ocean!
Stand vertical into the
wind on top of hills!
Water drop forms until
gravity brings it to its
mouth
Grimshaw I MIT I QinetiQ – Liquefy humidity
The Water Theatre, !
Las Palmas, Design 2005!
!
Airborne moisture from the
evaporators is then
collected from the
condensers, which are
cooled by deep seawater.
Carolyn Dry - Self Healing Concrete
Self-heal, self-maintenance!
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Rhino horn!
Non-living tissue!
Protein-release which fills
the crack!
Microscopic resin
capsules in concrete!
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Carolyn Dry, Natural
Process Design Inc. (Univ. of
Indiana)
Doing Biomimicry
Levels of Biomimicry
FORM!
形态
PROCESS!
过程
ECOSYSTEM!
⽣生态系统
Emulation Level 1: Form
Kingfisher beak shape
inspired shinkansen
train tip.
Form can be seen with
your eye, something
you can measure
(kingfisher beak shape
for a train tip.)
Emulation Level 2: Process
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Abalone shell!
• made out of chalk
(calcium carbonate)
and protein
About 200%
stronger than our
toughest high-tech
ceramics
Calera binds half a ton
of CO2 when
producing a ton of
concrete, vs. emitting
one ton of CO2.
The train tip material
may still be toxic. How
to create the same
beak at ambient
conditions, no-tech,
with the resources
that immediately
surround you?
Emulation Level 3: (Eco-)Systems
Kalundborg industrial
symbiosis, Denmark!
Upcycle ‘Waste’ as
nutrients
How is the beak in
relationship to the
bird, to the tree, to the
forest, to the
biosphere, to the
planet?
Fundamentals
Essential Elements - ‘Seeds’ of Biomimicry
\ ethos!
ethics, moral, philosophy;
respect for all life forms.!
'FIT IN' on earth; survive and
be a beneficial species;
'create conditions
conducive to life’!
\ emulate!
nature as model, mentor and
measure (≠ copy, but
learning & applying)!
\ (re)connect!
discover life's genius,
quieting human intelligence
& listening to nature,
rediscover relationship with
nature
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Life’s Principles ⽣生命的原则
Overarching patterns found
amongst all species
surviving and thriving on
Earth!
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\ 6 master principles !
\ 26 overall principles!
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Operating conditions:!
1. Limits and boundaries
(the 3 balls)!
2. Gravity, sunlight and
water, size restraints…!
3. Cyclic processes!
4. Dynamic nonequilibrium
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Life’s Principles ⽣生命的原则
Evolve to survive 为⽣生存⽽而进化!
Be resource efficient 有效的再⽣生资源!
Adapt to changing
conditions
适应变化的环境!
Integrate development with
growth
整合增⻓长与发展!
Be locally attuned and
responsive
与当地协调并适应!
Use life friendly chemistry
利⽤用有利⽣生命的化学品
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Life’s Principles
Life creates conditions
conducive to Life…!
创造有益于⽣生活的环境!
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The principles can act as !
• Model:
innovative strategies!
• Mentor: aspirational ideals!
• Measure: sustainable benchmarks
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Life’s Principles
Life creates conditions
conducive to Life…!
创造有益于⽣生活的环境!
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!
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The principles can act as !
• Model:
innovative strategies!
• Mentor: aspirational ideals!
• Measure: sustainable benchmarks
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
The method
Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking
While akin to a
methodology, Biomimicry
Thinking is a framework that
is intended to help people
practice biomimicry while
designing anything. There
are four areas in which a
biomimicry lens provides
the greatest value to the
design process:!
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\ Scoping!
\ Discovering!
\ Creating!
\ Evaluating
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking
SCOPING!
• DEFINE Context !
• IDENTIFY Function !
• INTEGRATE Life’s
Principles !
DISCOVERING!
• DISCOVER Bio-Models !
• ABSTRACT Design
Strategies!
CREATING!
• BRAINSTORMING BioInspired Concepts!
• EMULATE Nature’s
Strategies !
EVALUATING!
• MEASURE
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking
Challenge to Biology!
!
1.
2.
3.
4.
IDENTIFY Function !
DEFINE Context !
BIOLOGIZE Challenge !
DISCOVER Natural
Models !
5. ABSTRACT into Design
Principles !
6. EMULATE Nature’s
Strategies !
7. EVALUATE against Life’s
Principles
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Design Lens – Biomimicry Thinking
Biology to Design!
!
1. DISCOVER Natural
Models !
2. ABSTRACT Design
Principles !
3. BRAINSTORM Potential
Applications !
4. EMULATE Nature’s
Strategies !
5. EVALUATE against Life’s
Principles
B3.8 & Biomimicry Institute
Tools
Biomimicry Taxonomy (actions, functions)
Thank You!
Books:!
• Biomimicry – Innovation Inspired by
Nature, by Janine Benyus!
• Biomimicry in Architecture, by
Michael Pawlyn!
• The Gecko's Foot: Bio-inspiration Engineering New Materials from
Nature, by Peter Forbes!
• Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired
Technologies, by Yoseph Bar-Cohen!
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TED talks, formal education (Bpro,
Bspec), workshops, …
Links:!
• www.Biomimicry.net!
• www.Biomimicry.org !
• www.Asknature.org !
• www.EOL.org !
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Biomimicry in China:!
• http://bidl.tongji.edu.cn !
• http://bidl.tongji.edu.cn/
wiki!
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bidltj@tongji.edu.cn