Biomimicry Institute
University Education
University of Toronto Takes First Prize in Biomimicry Student Design Challenge
Civil engineering graduate students from the University of Toronto took first prize in Round 1 of this year’s Biomimicry Student Design Challenge. Their design, “Removal of Air Entrained in Water,” was inspired by fish gills, and could potentially...If Plants Do It, Shouldn’t We?
Sometimes biomimicry is literal — emulate the chemistry of blue mussels to make a formaldehyde-free glue, or mimic shark skin to create an anti-fouling surface for sea-going vessels. But sometimes biomimicry is metaphorical, and these ideas can often be the most...Genius of Place: Learning in the Wind
A week after Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the United States, I stood on a beach in Massachusetts feeling the brunt of a strong Nor’easter. The wind was so strong that if you jumped in the air, it would blow you inland a foot or two. Joining me were equally...Simple Experiment to Visualize Ocean Acidification
When carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce seawater pH, making it more acidic. This process is known as ocean acidification and it poses a serious threat to shell-building sea life and corals, because it...The Latest on Spider Silk Research
The Guardian recently published an interview with Oxford professor and spider researcher, Fritz Vollrath. At the beginning of the interview, there’s a quote that reveals a lot about the man and the spiders he studies. When asked how he first got interested in...Support nature-inspired problem-solvers
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