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The Biomimicry Institute, our partners, and individual educators collectively have developed various resources, curricula and teaching modules designed to provide some level of introduction to biomimicry and help you integrate biomimicry into your classes and programs. We encourage you to use and/or adapt the materials below to meet your needs and to give credit to the original author or developer as appropriate. Any feedback you have to offer on the materials would be appreciaed.
Note: Use this URL if you want to revisit this page in the future without having to complete the download form: http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/education/university/curricula.html
Teaching Modules
Both of the modules below were first presented as part of our first
Biomimicry in Higher Education Webinar in January 2011. View our Webinar page for details and access to the full Proceedings.
Biology into Design Module: Self-Organization and Group Behavior (PDF - 147 KB) by Adrian Smith, ASU
Abstract: Biomimicry education requires organizing and presenting
biological research in ways that non-biologists can access and engage
with. With this in mind, I have created a teaching module designed to
present the topic of self-organization in a way that designers,
engineers, and other non-biologists can engage with and find useful. The
information is presented in a loose framework consisting of: the
problem in context, examples, strategies and principles used, tradeoffs
and advantages, and design examples. Also included are interactive
activities and references for expanding and further developing the
material.
Much Ado About CO2 (PDF - 631 KB) by Dona Boggs, PhD, The Biomimicry Institute
Abstract: This teaching module on carbon dioxide and carbonic anhydrase reviews
important concepts in biology and addresses the current challenge of
finding ways to sequester CO2 in order to slow the rising CO2 level and
its contribution to global warming. There may be biomimetic solutions. A
few classroom activities are offered to highlight some of the concepts
to be learned, and 'current events' citations are offered to get a
student discussion started about the controversies surrounding CO2
sequestration methods. This is targeted at undergraduate students in a
non-majors biology course.
Reading Materials
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature - Chapter 1 (1997) by Janine Benyus
Tips to Give Your Writing Wings (2004) by Janine Benyus
How to Give an Inspirational Talk (2007) by Rose Tocke
Secrets of Watching Wildlife (2006) by Terry Krautwurst
Get To Know Nature (2006) by Jena Ball
Places To Intervene in a System (1997) by Donella Meadows
Biomimicry Resource Tools
Life's Principles Butterfly (2008)
Life's Priniciples List (2008)
Design Spirals (2008)
Biomimicry Approach (Draft: 2009)
Life's Principles (version 5.0)
Biomimicry Design Spirals (2011)
Resources for Full Course Development
All of the following course resources were developed by Cindy Gilbert, who taught an introductory biomimicry course at the University of Montana-Missoula in fall 2008.
Course Materials:
Course Flyer
Course Syllabus
Course Assignments:
Assignment 1: Natural History Research
Assignment 2: OBSERVE & ABSTRACT - Local Champion & Deep Pattern Scavenger Hunt
Assignment 3: OBSERVE, ABSTRACT & IDENTIFY - Learning From Nature Discovery Report
Assignment 4: CREATIVE COMMUNCATION SKILLS - Translating Science for the People to the People
Assignment 5: EVALUATE - Life's Principles Challenge
GROUP Assignment: Part 1 - Overview
GROUP Assignment: Part 2 - Life's Strategies Taxonomy
GROUP Assignment: Part 3 - Nature's Technologies Report
Course Grading Tools (Rubrics):
All Assignment Grading Schemes
Life's Principles Challenge Rubric
Nature's Technologies Report Rubric
Group Work Oral Presentation Rubric - Individual Evaluation
Group Work Oral Presentation Rubric - Group Evaluation
Example Course Evaluation Tools:
Focus Group Meeting Questionnaire
Group Work Questionnaire
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