It’s something we don’t do enough: Stop and appreciate the abundant amount of knowledge, gifts, and goodness that surround us—especially when it comes to nature’s genius. There is an incredible amount to learn from nature’s forms, processes, and ecosystems. The best part? Change-makers around the world are learning from this genius to create incredible biomimicry innovations set to help solve some of Earth’s most pressing problems.
We’re showing gratitude this week by sharing some of our favorite stories about biomimicry, biomimics, and nature’s genius.
COMBATTING CARBON
SETH GALEWYRICK
Engineering & DesignIn a time when so many stories about the climate are really scary, I’m grateful for all the amazing progress that is being made in using waste carbon in the form of C02 and CH4 as building blocks for new materials. In terms of potential global impact from biomimicry, these technologies that emulate how plants, animals, and even bacteria convert carbon into structure are near the top of the list. If you’re interested in this topic, check out our Carbon Report.
THANKFUL FOR INTERFACE
JESSICA SMITH
Visual Communications
The other day, my mother told me that the carpet tiles on our floors are the best purchase I’ve ever made for our home. I agree! I love rearranging the tiles to keep our rooms feeling fresh. I’ve also been able to repurpose them in our camper and for art fair displays. Thank you, InterfaceFLOR, for making a biomimetic product that is versatile, life-friendly, and beautiful! And thank you for your support of the Biomimicry Student Design Challenge—it’s so important!
INSPIRING LEARNERS
DAYNA BAUMEISTER
B3.8 Co-founderAs director of both the Biomimicry Professional Program and the only Master’s of Science in Biomimicry in the world at Arizona State University, I am so incredibly grateful for all the students who are making “course corrections” in their established careers to not only learn biomimicry, but venture out to facilitate its practice and adoption in all corners of the world. I’m blown away by their passion, their creativity, and their dedication to helping humans and the planet thrive. It’s like witnessing the assembly of an army of peacekeepers and imagining what’s to come.
BIOLOGICAL BLUEPRINT
Climate warming will challenge even the California coast live oak. However, it’s one of the most adaptable and resilient trees on earth, having evolved with fire since the mid-Cretaceous period when CO2 levels were extreme. Though the roots of coast live oak can burrow through rock fractures deep underground, it’s real secret to surviving drought are symbiotic partners, fungal mycelia that tap water from soil pores, and even deeper, from groundwater. This precious biological blueprint will help guide us in future challenges. You can learn more about how forests can inform sustainable built environment design through our Genius of Biome report.
ELIMINATING PLASTIC WASTE
THERESA SCOTT
Executive Assistant and Project CultivatorGiven the estimate that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, I am thankful that there is work being done pertaining to sustainable packaging, particularly the reduction or elimination of plastic waste. Experience what it’s like to generate innovation ideas from nature for packaging challenges through our free Biomimicry + Packaging Innovation Toolkit that “game-ifies” the innovation process.
REAL-LIFE SOLUTIONS
At this time of Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Janine Benyus, Dayna Baumeister, each and every one of the smart, creative, compassionate staff at Biomimicry 3.8, and with our strategic lab partners whose fearless quest into the labyrinth of uncharted R&D helps us metamorphose our biomimetic ideas into real-life solutions. Getting up every day to work with these wonderful people while learning how nature works? Priceless.