From an evaporative cooling system inspired by the Texas Horned Lizard to protecting coral reefs with a solution inspired by tree canopies and Orb Weaver Spiders, this year’s YDC champions are worthy of celebration for their curiosity, ingenuity, and creative problem-solving.
If you haven’t traveled to Indiana, you likely haven’t heard about the Indiana Dunes. Along the shores of Lake Michigan there lies an unusual, natural sand dune, created by a glacier that retreated over 12,000 years ago. Filled with rich biodiversity, the Dunes make a perfect place for learners at any age to find inspiration from nature’s resilient adaptability.
In 2019, a team of high school students from Larkspur, California wanted to create a more efficient underwater energy generator to take on one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gasses: electricity production. Inspired by the winged seeds of the Javan cucumber (alsomitra macrocarpa), they devised a passive control system for tidal kites, which “float / fly” in ocean currents to generate energy.
Are you a youth educator using biomimicry in your programs? If so, a group of biomimicry educators working in partnership with the Biomimicry Institute is interested in hearing about your experience through the Biomimicry Educators Experience Survey.
Contact us at hello(at)biomimicry.org!