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What is biomimicry?

A photo of Janine Benyus

Janine Benyus

Biologist, Ecological Design Consultant

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About the video: ‘What is biomimicry?’

Janine Benyus describes how biomimicry works, pointing to its origins in early human history. She explains how and why western industrial nations are only now rediscovering the profound implications that biomimicry has for the future of design. She then highlights examples that illustrate how biomimicry has led to the creation of world famous buildings and other innovations.

Total views: 5,932

Filmed: San Francisco, USA on 16 October 2005

Credits: Interviewer - Marcus Morrell Camera and Editor - Marcus Morrell

Copyright © 2005 Big Picture TV

About Janine Benyus

Janine Benyus is co-founder of the Biomimicry Guild, where she works as a biologist helping designers and engineers learn from nature’s design solutions.
She is also President of the Biomimicry Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to naturalize biomimicry in the culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design.
She is the author of several books, including ‘Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.’
She is also a public speaker and has given lectures to a number of large organizations and corporations including Nike, Novell, Proctor & Gamble, Patagonia and Interface Carpets.
In 2006 she received the Women of Discovery Award.

Other videos with Janine Benyus

Janine Benyus

What can designers learn from the natural world? (part 1)

Janine Benyus gives examples of how designers have used biomimicry to create more environmentally benign products. The German paint manufacturer, Sto, studied the surface of a Lotus…

Recorded: 16 October 2005

Janine Benyus

What can designers learn from the natural world? (part 2)

Janine Benyus looks at how biomimicry has enabled engineers to develop innovative, resource-efficient materials. In stark contrast to the typical “heat, beat and treat”…

Recorded: 16 October 2005

Janine Benyus

What can designers learn from the natural world? (part 3)

Janine Benyus gives more examples of innovations that have been inspired by nature. Pax Scientific, a US technology company, has developed…

Recorded: 16 October 2005

Janine Benyus

What can industry learn from nature?

Janine Benyus talks about how mature ecosystems like rainforests have inspired a number of industrial eco-parks. These are co-locations of companies that distribute waste and raw…

Recorded: 16 October 2005

Janine Benyus

What can designers learn from biologists? (part 1)

Janine Benyus talks about her current efforts to bring more biologists to the design table. She believes there is a vast wealth of knowledge in fields such as biology, zoology and…

Recorded: 16 October 2005

Janine Benyus

what can designers learn from biologists? (part 2)

In this second part of a two-part series, Janine Benyus discusses the pressing need to educate engineers, designers and even biologists in the field of functional biology. Nature…

Recorded: 16 October 2005

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