Biomimicry
	Name: Biomimicry File: Ramsden Presentation Final 5-9-12.pdf Size(MB): 2.63MB Extension: PDF Event: 2012 ICSC - SEATTLE Speaker Name: Ramsden, A. Managed by: sdickens Date Uploaded: June 6, 2012; 8:06 am Download Count: 147 Downloads This Month: 147 Your Geographic Information: Country: United States State/Region: Washington City: Seattle Zip Code: 98144 Area Code: 206 Your IP: 72.44.48.122 Description: In our efforts to seek out innovative, sustainable design and construction solutions, we must be reminded that nature has solved billions of structural and functional problems already. Why recreate the wheel? Biomimicry is defined, by Janine Benyus, as a "science that studies nature's models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems". Even the concrete industry has been advanced with this approach: high early strength engineered cementitious composites, or self-healing concrete, under development at the University of Michigan, was inspired by the structure and chemical make-up of self-healing elements in nature such as bones, muscles, the pipevine and cell membranes. This presentation will discuss the concept of Biomimicry and how nature can inform and influence design and manufacturing. The benefits of this approach will be discussed and specific case studies will be highlighted, in order to convey the practical, advantageous application of Biomimicry in sustainability.