VIRTUAL: Applying Education

Abstract

Biomimicry is a practice that learns from and mimics strategies found in nature to inform human challenges. The results must create conditions conducive to life. Systems within nature have billions of years of experience solving problems and adapting to changing conditions on a fixed planet. With climate crisis headlines raging, it is crucial that students from all disciplines be exposed to this method of problem-solving that begins with the wisdom of nature. The first step in approaching a design problem from a biomimetic perspective is to identify the function of problem’s intended outcome and ask how nature would approach that function. In a case study presented to students, eco-anxiety in adults who shop online for clothes are explored as a user group. Students explore how eco-anxiety can be prevented or warned against by researching existing natural models who are already expert in preventing and/or warning. A mash-up of the words “create” and “emulate” (cre-emulate) serves as the guiding verb in the design phase. Humans often operate solely under assumptions, heuristic methods, and time constraints. With the biomimicry approach, the natural model and its biological mechanisms became the blueprint for design and ideation. The design process shifts away from pre-conceived notions about solutions and allows the natural model to innovate and lead. This presentation intends to inspire new problem-solving pathways for educators in all fields. It has never been more crucial for the planet to critically investigate problems that prioritize protecting the future of our earth’s ecology.