Research Archives - Page 2 of 2

Nature’s Design For Atmospheric Restoration

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a common Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) generated from human activity and industry. Ubiquitous in the indoor and outdoor environments of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, VOCs react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) creating frequent ozone (O3) events that are hazardous to human and ecosystem health.

How Can Nature Re-create a Healthy Atmosphere?

Research supports the correlation between native plant-microbiome relationships and microbiome health, so NatuR&D designs a living machine to restore the ecosystem by boosting the soils in Mexico City’s metro area to process VOCs and NOx.

Presented at the March 2021 SPIE Conference on Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation
Claudia Rivera Cárdenas, Anne-Marie Daniel, “How does Nature regulate atmospheric composition?: Formaldehyde removal from air,” Proc. SPIE 11586, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication XI, 1158609 (22 March 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2579919

Paper (PDF)
Video (Spanish)
Video (English)
Slides (PDF)

How Nature Finds Balance – How I Wonder What You Are

Writer, Biomimicry professional and entrepreneur Anjan Prakash shares a video post – 29 Individuals – on building your practice through meditations on how Nature finds balance.

On the 29^th of Jan, nine varieties put out their tiny heads out of the soil, each in varying lengths, widths, shapes, and some in different shades of green. Some such a tiny head, I almost missed it in my first inspection. On the 30^th, five more said hello to us. 31^st Jan, another six more, 1^st Feb, six, and now you know how this goes. One of them (chives) is enjoying the company of the soil so much, that no amount of anything has yet made her want to break out of her seed, and pop out of the soil. I am told that she needs patience.

Watch the entire, amazing video right here.

29 Individuals from howiwonderwhatyouare on Vimeo.

Nymphalidae Danaus plexippus Chrysalisup close on branch

NatuR&D collaborates to bring Nature to the design table

Redesigning Flexible Film Packaging For Sustainability

At the recent Redefining Flexible Films Innovation Workshop, a virtual gathering of 80 experts across the packaging industry including brand owners like Mars, PepsiCo, Whole Foods and other stakeholders took aim at zero-waste food packaging. NatuR&D was there.

NatuR&D, Kool Earth Solutions, Inc. and RCD are collaborating to create Flexture: Biomimicry for Bio-Based Flexible Film R&D Project, looking to Nature for inspiration to design new bio-based functional packaging and researching the specific function of moisture vapour management in plants, insects and animals. This is a breakthrough approach to packaging design led by NatuR&D.

The team is also embarking on a concurrent industry engagement strategy to offer research on tap in the form of a “Bite-Size Biomimicry” offering, drawing inspiration from Nature on sponsor-directed questions.

Here are a few ideas that were sprinkled around the session.

What can we learn about textures and the unique functions of microstructures in nature? What “packaging” in nature (like the skin of a lotus leaf or an avocado) can we look to for inspiration?
Software tools that provide sustainability scores of products using life cycle;
assessment (LCA) data.
Leverage blockchain technology to publicly track the impact and end destinations of packaging (and know who helped get it there).
Educate and promote the zero-waste movement and create zero waste aisles in grocery stores.
Crowdfunding, incubation hubs, education and promotion of new technologies, developing low-interest loan programs and grant programs to fund budding new technologies.
Collaborate/develop partnerships with universities to develop and test materials.

Read the entire article here: https://www.packagingdigest.com/flexible-packaging/brainstorming-flexible-packaging-sustainability-80-experts-1500-ideas

Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge – webinar

Digging Into the Biomimicry Design Cycle: Helping Students Explore Biological Models and Develop a Biomimicry Design
November 10 @ 5 pm – 6 pm Mountain time (GMT-7)

The Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge (YDC) offers a unique approach to engineering design projects by introducing nature’s organisms and processes to create novel solutions.

Join us for a virtual conversation to explore resources from the Instructional Storyline sections MATCH and INNOVATE. These lessons help students identify inspiring biological models and apply them in innovative ways in constructing a design solution. We will also consider ways your student teams can work safely in person or virtually to create, test, and refine models of their design.

Sign up – This event has passed.

Central American Coral Snake / Coral macho

On Conflict podcast – Nature’s lessons

Look to Nature as your silent partner at the negotiation table. Biomimic and Mediator, Anne-Marie Daniel, reveals the expert in the room on episode 38 of On Conflict with Julia Menard & Gordon White.

Ask your mother

Divine what you already know deep down with Life Principles Leadership Cards. As leaders, we can learn from Nature, applying regenerative practices that have evolved over 3.8 billion years.

This deck of 52 cards introduces you to natural mentors who embody Life’s Principles and offer guidance for your leadership. Whether being inspired by coral reefs or kangaroos, this educational deck will develop your leadership skills while helping to build your biological knowledge. Perfect for your own learning or for use in group activities, the Life’s Principles Leadership Cards come in standard playing card size, with a sturdy recyclable travel case.

Purchase your set right here: Life’s Principles Leadership Cards

©Miles Nurse | ?

Biomimicry – The handbook

Real biomimicry is not just nature-inspired. The true practice of biomimicry comes with a payback to Nature for all her good ideas and a commitment to work with her. Go deep with your practice and incorporate her design principles into all your creative challenges. Use The Biomimicry Resource Handbook as your touchstone. Written by meme alchemist, Dr. Dayna Baumeister.

Get into Nature’s details for the secrets to manufacturing

Learn to design at the micro-scale with Lichen Labs’ U Nature course. Use biomimicry thinking to re-design our world through small details with awesome results! From self-cleaning to colour with crystals, Nature’s got it going on.

UNature Virtual Course Outline:

The award-winning team at Lichen Labs developed an inspiring virtual course for 7th-grade life science courses to stimulate curiosity and interest in science. This interactive virtual course teaches students the basic principles of biomimicry. The lessons can be delivered remotely, and the students can perform the assignments from home.

UNature Virtual is a 3 lesson course that middle school science teachers can teach remotely using materials and homework applicable to the virtual classroom.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Biomimicry

Lesson 2: The Biomimicry Journal

Lesson 3: Biology to Design

Learn More & Register

Wonder Invitations

Behold, wonder, and listen to LIFE, with these posts that prompt all aspects of your nature-inspired practice. Biomimicry Professional, writer and custodian of circles, Anjan Prakash, helps us connect to our true nature through her invitations.