BioInspired! So What? Now What!

This book examines and defines the field of biomimicry for sustainable built environment design and goes on to translate ecological knowledge into practical methodologies for architectural and urban design that can proactively respond to climate change and biodiversity loss. These methods are tested and exemplified through a series of case studies of existing cities in a variety of climates. Regenerative Urban Design and Ecosystem Biomimicry will be of great interest to students, professionals and researchers of architecture, urban design, ecology, and environmental studies, as well as those interested in the interdisciplinary study of sustainability, ecology and urbanism.

Attachment includes table of contents and a discount code.

Public attachment: 

9781138079489 Author Flyer.pdf

2018/02/08 ​attached introduction and table of contents

Congratulations to Taryn Mead on publishing Bioinspiration In Business And Management: Innovating For Sustainability in December, 2017.  From the publisher:

Many organizations have found themselves well advanced in their sustainability strategies and reaching the limits of progress made through eco-efficiency measures and regulatory compliance. Looking for novel approaches and solutions, many managers are turning to bioinspiration and related fields such as biomimicry, nature-inspired innovation, circular economy, and cradle to cradle, as tools for sustainability-oriented innovation. This innovation paradigm has been gaining popularity across disciplines in recent decades as the world grapples with the challenge of sustainable development.

This book offers a succinct guide for managers and sustainability professionals who are interested in exploring various aspects of business inspired by nature. With applicability ranging from technological, organizational, and system-building innovations, there is a broad realm of possibilities that suit a manager’s scope of ifluence regardless of their position within the organization. This book aims to exhibit the applications of business inspired by nature that extend beyond the boundaries of the organization and encourage open innovation with novel partners in unlikely scenarios, with all partners aligned by the principles of natural systems.

Public attachment: 

Bioinspiration in Business and Management-intro.pdf

2013/08/03 attachment uploaded again - 'magically' disappeared early on August 2nd

As part of his 2009 doctoral thesis at the Graduate School of Design Research, Kobe Design University, Carlos Alberto Montana Hoyos explored ways to "... develop, test, evaluate and refine an integrative and cross-disciplinary teaching method for DfS [Design for Sustainability] applicable to undergraduate ID Education. This method is based on the integrated study of nature, human society and design.  It focuses on the use of biomimicry, combined with ecodesign tools and theories of human needs analysis."  Attached is a summary of his thesis.

Public attachment: 

BIO-ID4S-summary paper.pdf

A list of design competitions, including:

• RSA student design awards (UK)
• Evolve (Canada, autumn/winter)
• International Interior Design Association Student Sustainable design competition (USA, October 2013)
• ONE Prize (international, promotes green design in cities - Tormproof is this year's theme)
• The Buckminster Fuller Challenge (international, April)
• CORE77 Design Awards
• Architecture for Humanity

Also includes a pointer to "a PhD student, Jak Spencer of Loughborough University (UK), who turned his findings about laundry and sustainability into a sustainable design competition sponsored by a third party group, Forum for the Future."

Carl Hastrich of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) maintains an extensive blog on the topic of "emerging design ideas of biomimicry, critical creativity, sustainability and strategic thinking".  Recent posts include: