“I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology. A new era is beginning.”
– Steve Jobs
A closer look at Biomimicry
In 1997, author Janine Benyus defined biomimicry as the conscious emulation of nature’s genius. She elegantly explained that for billions of years nature has been refining strategies for surviving on this planet and that through biomimicry we can create more efficient, sustainable, and beautiful designs by learning from these elders. Velcro is a classic example of biomimicry. It’s the fastener that was inspired by the hooks of the burdock burr that annoyingly stick to your pants or your dog’s hair. Although, it is not the most sustainable solution it does highlight an ingenious design that was directly inspired by nature. As we move from the “Age of Machine” to the “Age of Biology” the only limitation to a sustainable future is our creativity. The technologies that are emerging will make some of the most inventive ideas a reality. All we need is to be creative in how we leverage the genius of nature and existing technologies to solve our big problems.