biomimicry in the nordic countries - pd-symposiumpd-symposium.org/files/spssd/8. lenau pd-symposium...
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Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Iceland
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Greenland
Faroe Islands
Åland
Biomimicry in the Nordic CountriesSustainability through inspiration from nature
Torben Lenau, Lilli Linkola and Anna Maria Orrù
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Biomimicry: Nature & sustainability
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Bio-terms
Image Credit: Orrù/Lenau 2018
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Biomimetics – using natures principles
Image credit: KISSpng.com Image credit: Trillist.com
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Sustainable aircrafts?
Image credit: voanews.com
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Sustainable aircrafts?
image credit: https://www.westpacrescuetas.com.au
Growing interest in the field
― # published biomimetics papers in ISI Web of Science. search terms ‘biomim*’, ‘bionic*’ and ‘biologically inspired’
The bars: the number of published biomimetics papers The line: the proportion of papers / all published papers
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BiomimicryPenguins increase speed drastically by releasing air bubbles from under the feathers
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Biomimicry: Össur cheetah inspired flexfood prosthetic blades
Image credits: ossur.com & sciencemag.org
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Biomimicry: The olympic swimmer Jeanette Ottesen used light therapy in Rio in collaborationwith DTU Photonics.
Image credit: Jakob Hildebrandt Andersen
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Biomimicrynight vision – humans can’t see colours at night
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Biomimicrynight vision – humans can’t see colours at night
rod:light intensity
cone:colours
Image credit: wikipedia.org
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BiomimicryMegalopta genalis – nocturnal sweat bee - finds its way in very dim light utilizing spatiotemporal summation
Image credit: Eric Warrent, Lund University
Biomimicry frontrunners in the Nordics
Project background: o Nordic Council of Ministers, Working Group for Sustainable Consumption and Production
(SCP) – Nordic frontrunners in biomimicryo Method
broad search for people and organisations working with biomimicry, bioinspiration and for sustainability/CE.
questionaire mailed to potential candidateso Results: more than 100 organisations and 100 professionals listed in a stakeholder map.
Stakeholder Map of Actors in Biomimicry or Bio-related Fields in the Nordics and in the EU
Image: Print screen of the stakeholdermap
https://kumu.io/Linkola/frontrunners-in-biomimicry-in-the-nordics
Categories of Findings
Actors and Activities in the Nordics
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5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden Total
Nu
mb
er
of
acto
rs
Biomimicry
Biomimetics
Bioinspiration, bioinspired,nature-inspired
Circular economy
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Opportunities for Green Business Development
0 2 4 6 8 10
Consulting
Food production
Water and sanitation
Urban planning, architecture and building design
Chemical engineering
Aerospace engineering
Biomedical applications and biomedical technology
Fashion and textiles
Product development
Materials development
Number of actors in industry sector
Findings
o A majority of the bioinspired and bio-related work within university research and development (biomimetics), The largest industrial impact is within companies thatdirectly can benefit from mimicing biological functionality like biochemistry, pharmaceuticals and biomechanics.
o Academic Research and Development - many universities
o Industry - wastewater treatment, water production and HVAC areas, Bio-chemical and Pharmaceutical companies (biochemistry), Robotic and automation companies(biomechanics), Industrial symbiosis groups, Architecture (circular economy and recycling), IT (search algorithms).
o Training – University courses, museums, industrial courses, both private and public sectors
o Forums and Innovation Platforms - many with narrow scope
o Bio-inspiration and sustainability/CE in seperate groups
The European Sceneo Two families of bioinspired communities
o Four countries lead Biomimetic-inspired fields: Germany, UK, Switzerland, and France.
o Germany - biomimetic networks already appeared in the early 2000’s
o UK - earliest involved in the field of biomimetics
o Switzerland – a dynamics in biomimetics (NCCR).
o France - the largest networks in Europé
o Diverse platforms bringing together actors and activities
Biomimicry in the Nordics: SWOT -Analyses
Strengths Weaknesses
• Connection with nature in Nordic Countries• Diverse ongoing research activities and university education• Growing interest • Existing successful Nordic examples in business
• biomimicry needs investment - time, money, education etc.• no shortcuts towards sustainability • Biologists are not present• Research in biomimetics not always sustainable
Opportunities Threats
• a truly sustainable society• Holistic approach (form, process & system)• Crossdisciplinary• Transdisciplinary• Nature as a solutions and knowledge bank• Constant learning and expansion• Inexhaustible knowledge bank (3.8 billion years R&D)• interest and opportunity to join nature and sustainable
• Competing methodologies • Silo-thinking, narrow-minded use. • Confusion in terminology, misuse, misunderstood• Unsustainable processes assessing sustainability (LCA. etc)• Lack of Political /public sector support• Lack of funding• Not enough training or leadership• Use of the term as a trend
Recommendations for the SCP/HKP
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o Nordic Centre and Summit 2019
o Distribute report
o Continuation for the online presence/stakeholder mapping
o Clearer definitions and avoid binary relation
o Support for the transdisciplinary process
o Funding (academia and industry)
o Education platform for opportunities
o Biomimicry promotion and support for industry (platforms)
Short-term Recommendations
Long-term Recommendations
Biomimicry – opportunities for sustainabilityUnique opportunities in biomimicry:o Nature has been there for 3.8 billion years – it works!o Nature is a combination of unique individual species and complex systemso Nature is very resilient and adaptive to changeso Development work on strategic and operational levels o Cross disciplinary collaboration (broader view on possible solutions)
The expertise is availableo Large numbers of highly skilled biologists existo Expertice and well proven methods exist: • Biomimicry institute (tools, asknature)• University research & expertise • University courses• Industrial courses and consultancy
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Biomimicry – Methods & Tools
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The Design SpiralBiomimicry Institute
The Biocard MethodTechnical University of Denmark
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Biomimicry – Methods & Tools
Asknature taxonomy & search toolBiomimicry Institute
Biocard abstraction toolTechnical University of Denmark
4 box and T-chart problem anaylsis toolGeorgia Tech
Operational Environment
Function
SpecificationsPerformance
Criteria 1 D
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Dis
cove
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bst
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Biomimicry at DTU: Course 41084
Biomimicry example: Sanitation – a new way
Organisers of the strategic workshop:DTU: Good use of a design tool (Biomimcry) – Christina Okai Majborn & Torben Lenau.Index award: People and tools that solve global problems that matter (sanitation).WTO: Sanitation in in developing countries
Design brief: A BOP sanitation solution based on separation principles. The solutions should be a product to buy or lease (25$ goal). Design branding, product and business model.
Research questions: (1) is it possible to handle a taboo topic in a public workshop? (2) how to stage and frame such a workshop with a taboo topic? (3) how to stimulate the creative idea generation using design tools like biomimicry?
Biomimicry – sanitation (1) handling of taboo topic
Break the ice: Split people into small groups, give them a specific task so they are forced to talk about the topic. Continue to make small presentations in plenum.Define an acceptable terminology: Sanitation/toilet/bathroom, defecate, urine, faeces, the act
Brainstorm on questions related to the urge, first impression, the act and after the act
Biomimicry – sanitation (2) staging the workshop
Visualisation highly important: - Posters and physical artefacts worksPeoples background crucial:- Discussion vs. Create solutions- Drawing and model building require previous experience (important to have designers in each team)
Physical artefacts: A separation dry toilet
Boxes illustrating amount of waste
Posters describing problem and context
Biomimicry – sanitation (3) stimulate creative idea generation
2 biomimetic analogies were used- instruction crucial- focus on problems to solve
Peoples background:- visual and spatial design skillsessential
Inspiration cards
Solution inspired by bird chicks wrapping technique
Biomimetic analogies to toilet problems
Biomimetic analogies to toilet problems
In conclusion
o Biomimicry: Inspiration from nature offers valuable input and inspiration for sustainabilityo There is a growing interest for biomimicry (academic papers & patents)o Examples of biomimicry shows sustainability improvement potentialo Survey of biomimicry frontrunners in the Nordics: About 100 organisations and 100 person identified Mainly academics but also many industries Range of different industrial fields Challenge: weak coupling between biological and sustainability expertise
o Opportunity: biomimicry knowledge and expertise exist
Torben Lenau [email protected] Linkola [email protected] Maria Orrù [email protected] 32