Biomimicry in Higher Education Webinar Part 2 (Karen Verbeek)

© ktsdesign - Fotolia.comThe June 2011 BioInspired! newsletter provided an overview of the Biomimicry Institute's “Biomimicry in Higher Education” webinar held in January and reviewed two of the presentations on interior design and methodologies.  This issue reviews four additional presentations on environmental remediation, architecture and methodologies.

The full proceedings, including abstracts of two of the teaching modules, can be purchased from the Biomimicry Institute ($10, 79 page PDF).

Biomimicry in Higher Education Overview

(adapted from http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/education/university/biomimicry-in-higher-education-webinar.html)

Topic Presenter
Integrating Biomimicry in Programs  
Functional Biology in Multidisciplinary Bioscience Courses Dr. Janet Kübler, PhD, California State University, Northridge
Teaching Biomimicry in the Context of Engineering Design Dr. Jacquelyn Nagel, PhD
A PhD in Biomimicry: How Would Nature Do That? Dr. Peter Niewiarowski, PhD, University of Akron, and Douglas Paige, BFA, The Cleveland Institute of Art
Education Modules  
Free Energy  
Surfing for Free: Optimizing Thermodynamic Pathways for Innovative Solutions Tom McKeag, California College of the Arts
Swarm Logic  
Biology into Design Module; Self-Organization and Group Behavior Adrian Smith, PhD candidate, Arizona State University, Tempe
Carbon cycle  
Much ado about CO2 : Education Module by Dr. Dona Boggs Curt McNamara presenting on behalf of Dona Boggs, Professor Emeritus, Eastern Washington University
Applying Biomimicry to Projects: Design Practice  
Environmental Remediation  
Teaching and learning with nature by using biomimicry approach to restore three keystone coastal habitats Dr. Anamarija Frankic, PhD, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Interior Design  
Using Biology to Guide Design Karen Sullivan, Adjunct, Miami University
Architecture  
Biomimetic Envelopes: Investigating Nature to Design Buildings Ilaria Mazzoleni, Southern California Institute of Architecture
Biomimicry: Towards a Sustain-Able Design Catalina Freixas, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St. Louis
Biomimicry Methodologies and Tools  
Industrial Design and Manufacturing  
Bio-Inspired Design of an Electric Scooter Body Ernst-Jan Mul, MSc, Bio-Inspired Design
Concept Transfer from Biological Junctions to End-of-Life Disassembly in Industrial Design Dr. Carlo Santulli, Sapienza Università di Roma, and Carla Langella, Seconda Università di Napoli

Two of the papers (highlighted in blue) were reviewed in the June 2011 issue of this newsletter.  The papers highlighted in green are summarized below.

 

Applying Biomimicry to Projects: Design Practice Presentations

 

Environmental Remediation

Teaching and learning with nature by using biomimicry approach to restore three keystone coastal habitats (Dr. Anamarija Frankic, PhD, University of Massachusetts, Boston)

In this study, we have outlined a development and application of biomimicry-based restoration, starting from an understanding that 'the environment sets the limits' – that the ecological needs and health of the harbor sustain human activities.” (p.14)

Salt marshes support complex food webs and are very productive ecosystems.  Past attempts at eelgrass bed restoration in the Boston Harbor had largely failed, possibly due to water clarity issues.  This failure underlined the importance of simultaneously restoring multiple coastal keystone habitats.  The collective restoration of the three habitats (the salt marsh, eelgrass and shellfish beds) was expected to improve water clarity through filtration, wave buffering and sediment stabilization functions.

By using a biomimicry approach to restoring a coastal environment in Boston Harbor, it was hoped that there would be an improvement in the recovery and response in the coastal habitats and the ecosystem services they provide.   The first step was to research how “how nature improves water quality and resiliency, stabilizes sediments, and adapts to sea level rise and storm surges within three coastal systems”

Coastal structures known as “floating skirts” (shown below) consisting of salt marshes, eelgrasses and shellfish were built to improve water quality and area biodiversity while protecting the shoreline in several ways.

Biomimicry was used to help define research questions, choose research methodologies and to apply the six core Life’s Principles (outlined below) to the final design of the floating structures.   The principles are being used in two pilot restoration sites at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

  1. Does the new structure have the capacity to evolve to survive?
  2. Is it resource efficient?
  3. How does it adapt to changing conditions and model resilience?
  4. Are development and growth integrated?
  5. How is it locally attuned and responsive?
  6. Does it use life-friendly materials, water-based chemistry and self-assembly?

The diagrams below are of Pier 5 in Boston Harbor and the 'Waterpod' design by J. Halverson (Lux Visual Effects). 

 

  

Architecture

Biomimetic Envelopes: Investigating Nature to Design Buildings (Ilaria Mazzoleni, Southern California Institute of Architecture)

In this project, the students used biomimicry in the architectural design process to develop environmentally responsive solutions.  The author’s conclusions sum up the benefits of this approach.  “First, if 'life creates conditions conducive to life' (Biomimicry Group 2009), then architecture needs to look at this process as a model for designing, inspiration and ultimately sustainable thinking.  Secondly, if 'life adapts and evolves' (Biomimicry Group 2009), then architecture needs to equally morph in response to site conditions so that buildings are sustainable and integrated with the environment.” (p. 42)

Students chose organisms from nature which exhibit particular characteristics that are then transformed from biological functions into design strategies.  “The projects presented, expand upon the term biomimetics by investigating the animal kingdom as a source of inspiration, focused on the analysis and understanding of various animal skins, translating the learned principles into the built environment.” (p. 31)

Students chose organisms from nature which exhibit particular characteristics that are then transformed from biological functions into design strategies, such as animal skins, their interaction with the environment and how they respond to environmental change.   This led to several biomimetic envelopes that respond to local environmental conditions. 

The carpenter bee served as the inspiration for thermo regulation.   The students, Francisco Barron and Yu-Pei Li found that the “pleated” surface of the bee’s exoskeleton was the model for thermal regulation in the building.  The pleated skin performs several other functions such as ventilation, insulation and ease of movement   In addition, the pleating feature lead to understanding spatial complexities which will be included in a pavilion in the Arts District in Dallas. 

 

© Vibe Images - Fotolia.comMaya Alam and Astri Bang studied the skin of the banana slug (shown at the right).  Slugs are dependent on the thin skin to breathe - the lungs only have a secondary breathing role.  Since the skin must be wet for the slug to breathe, the skin attracts moisture from the surrounding environment.  The students were inspired to design an adaptable, permeable building envelope (shown on the left) with these four qualities: porosity, protection, dynamic response and homeostasis.    The practical application of this project is a greenhouse for rainforest ecosystem education.

       

Biomimicry: Towards a Sustain-Able Design, Catalina Freixas, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St. Louis

The students studied the sidewinder snake, learning about the snake’s locomotion at the macro level where the snake’s body contacts the environment, and the micro level where they examine the mechanical functions of the muscles and vertebrae.  Actions at the micro and macro level are then related back to the snake’s engagement and responsiveness with respect to its environment including heat transfer.

Students narrow in on a natural process to understand its components, its connections and physical movements through a series of diagrams.” (p. 37)  This understanding is at the micro and macro scale.  The students created “a tectonic surface or a spatial system that can respond to an architectural problem.  The problem and the solution are related to the biological system within an ecosystem.” (p. 37)  

A variety of physical models helped the students understand the surfaces and movement involved (image on the left).  Students were inspired to develop a double façade system with flexible panels and a joint system inspired by the sidewinder and its movement (image on the right, “Sidewinding Snake, Double Facade” Peter Hernandez, Tyler Johnson, Daniel Tish, Spring 2010).  The panels fold to control the light and ventilation.  Sensors could be used to allow the façade to be responsive to heat levels.  The liberal use of drawing and model making based on the sidewinder at the macro and micro level inspired the students to relate the functions to architectural applications.

         

                              

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Design and Manufacturing

Concept Transfer from Biological Junctions to End-of-Life Disassembly in Industrial Design (Dr. Carlo Santulli, Sapienza Università di Roma, and Carla Langell, Seconda Università di Napoli)

Biomimetic examples were used to determine whether nature would have been able to solve some of the concerns in joining materials and components using junctions while supporting disassembly.  The interlocking spines in diatoms (two images on the left) were chosen as the study organism because of the large variety of junction solutions, reversible and irreversible.  In addition, the students looked at the “two levels of closure” possible in the locking mechanics of organisms such as diatoms.  This functionality served as the inspiration for a jewelry clip (diagram on the right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The process emphasized the “form follows function” approach. In addition to being a basic design principle it prevents the use of biomorphism that can often be the initial interpretation of biomimicry.  “Biological qualities become, therefore, the new references for a culture of design oriented to sustainable development 'from cradle to grave' and at the same time innovative in terms of materials and technologies (Santulli and Langella 2010a).” (p. 60)

There were in two phases in the project: a critical phase and a design phase. In the critical phase, the students learned about “design errors” in industrial design practice that lead to structural failure or unsuitability, later used to determine if there are better alternatives to the current solution. The design phase focused on a specific sector where existing solutions were evaluated and a new concept developed based on a bio-inspired approach.

The project focused on fastening and junctions, and the disassembly process including material re-use or recycling.  The challenges of manufactured junction solutions were compared to natural solutions.  Full reversibility with sufficient strength was difficult to achieve in a manufactured solution.  The conceptual model of junctions in nature can serve as inspiration for sustainable design concepts that address disassembly issues, as shown in the table below.

 

Additional Readings:

Image Credits:

  • Networked world: © ktsdesign - Fotolia.com
  • "Teaching and learning with nature by using biomimicry approach to restore three keystone coastal habitats" by Prof. Dr. Anamarija Frankic
  • "Biomimetic Envelopes: Investigating Nature to Design Buildings" by Prof. Ilaria Mazzoleni
    • longitudinal section of carpenter bee:  project Small Pavilion, Arts District in Dallas, by students Francisco Barron, Yu-Pei Li (Prof Ilaria Mazzoleni, Southern California Institute of Architecture)
    • digital and physical study model of pleating techniques: Small Pavilion project, Arts District in Dallas, by students Francisco Barron, Yu-Pei Li (Prof. Ilaria Mazzoleni, Southern California Institute of Architecture)
    • panel design study: project: Greenhouse project in Santa Cruz, California inspired by the Banana Slug by students Maya Alam, Astri Bang (Prof. Ilaria Mazzoleni, Southern California Institute of Architecture)
    • banana slug: © Vibe Images - Fotolia.com
  • "Biomimicry: Towards a Sustain-Able Design" by Prof. Catalina Freixas
    • sidewinder snake: RC Reptiles.com
    • sidewinder snake motion: Alderleaf Wilderness College
    • “Sidewinding Snake, Double Facade”: P. Hernandez, T. Johnson, D. Tish, Prof. C. Freixas, Spring 2010 (Washington University in St. Louis)
  • "Concept Transfer from Biological Junctions to End-of-Life Disassembly in Industrial Design", by Dr. Carlo Santulli
    • junction systems in diatoms: C. Santulli (Sapienza Università di Roma), C. Langella (Seconda Università di Napoli)
    • two-position jewels clip: C. Santulli (Sapienza Università di Roma), C. Langella (Seconda Università di Napoli)

 

 

Karen Verbeek has a biology and industrial design background and attended the Costa Rica Biomimicry Workshop. She is currently focusing on education in the Greater Toronto Area and building a biomimicry network.

 

 

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