The Biomimicry Institute
Encyclopedia
The Biomimicry Institute is non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana
, USA. It was founded in 2006 by Janine Benyus
; a natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author of six books, including − Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Its mission is to naturalize biomimicry
in culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology
to sustainable human systems design with the aim of creating a healthier, more sustainable planet.
, advance research and education, and provide environments for collaboration. The Institute has a range of downloadable curricula for K-12 schools on its website, and links to university classes and programs around the world, from Hungary
to Singapore
. In January 2010, Arizona State University
became the newest member of the Biomimicry Affiliate Program of the Biomimicry Institute. It has grown from one staff member and a $25,000 seed grant to a ten person staff with a $1.3 million annual budget. It has also created an annual summit and provided lectures, workshops and exhibits around the world.
community. The goal of the website is to connect innovative minds with life's best ideas, and in the process, inspire technologies that create conditions conducive to life. The website now has more than 2,400 registered users from 196 countries. In August 2010, AskNature was awarded $10,000 by The Earth Awards
, and is in the running for of the Grand Prize of The Earth Awards
2010 in London.
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, USA. It was founded in 2006 by Janine Benyus
Janine Benyus
Janine M. Benyus is an American natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author.-Life:Benyus graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with degrees in natural resource management and english literature/writing. Benyus teaches interpretive writing, lectures at the University of...
; a natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author of six books, including − Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Its mission is to naturalize biomimicry
Biomimicry
Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems. The term biomimicry and biomimetics come from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate...
in culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
to sustainable human systems design with the aim of creating a healthier, more sustainable planet.
Background
The Biomimicry Institute has developed a wide range of programs and activities to spread the word about biomimicryBiomimicry
Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems. The term biomimicry and biomimetics come from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate...
, advance research and education, and provide environments for collaboration. The Institute has a range of downloadable curricula for K-12 schools on its website, and links to university classes and programs around the world, from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. In January 2010, Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
became the newest member of the Biomimicry Affiliate Program of the Biomimicry Institute. It has grown from one staff member and a $25,000 seed grant to a ten person staff with a $1.3 million annual budget. It has also created an annual summit and provided lectures, workshops and exhibits around the world.
AskNature.org
The Institute has also launched AskNature.org - a free, online, searchable database of information for the online biomimicryBiomimicry
Biomimicry or biomimetics is the examination of nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems. The term biomimicry and biomimetics come from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate...
community. The goal of the website is to connect innovative minds with life's best ideas, and in the process, inspire technologies that create conditions conducive to life. The website now has more than 2,400 registered users from 196 countries. In August 2010, AskNature was awarded $10,000 by The Earth Awards
The Earth Awards
The Earth Awards is an aspirational platform for consumer-driven ideas that challenge designers and innovators to build a new economy. It is an annual competition since 2007, aiming to "transform visionary ideas into market-ready solutions by offering finalists the unique opportunities to pitch...
, and is in the running for of the Grand Prize of The Earth Awards
The Earth Awards
The Earth Awards is an aspirational platform for consumer-driven ideas that challenge designers and innovators to build a new economy. It is an annual competition since 2007, aiming to "transform visionary ideas into market-ready solutions by offering finalists the unique opportunities to pitch...
2010 in London.