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Biomimetics
Special Issues
Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy
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Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 38696

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jacquelyn K. Nagel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
Interests: bio-inspired design process; methods and tools; bio-inspired design pedagogy; engineering design theory; mechatronics; automation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomimetics is a design philosophy that encourages us to learn from nature and results in the discovery of non-conventional solutions to problems that are often more efficient, economic, and elegant. Taking inspiration from nature has made (and can make) valuable contributions to a wide range of areas, including engineering, architecture, materials science, and business. Although the approach is gaining credibility, questions of how to best support the process of biomimetics or teach biomimetics remain.  

This Special Issue aims at collecting theoretical, experimental, and review contributions from a multidisciplinary community of engineers, biologists, technologists, industrial designers, psychologists, social scientists, cognitive scientists, environmental scientists, and all others who work in the areas of biomimetic process and pedagogy. It will provide insight into the state of the art of how biomimetics is performed and taught.

Submissions related to but not limited to the following areas are highly encouraged: 

  • Standards of practice for biomimetics;
  • Processes of biomimetics;
  • Tools and methods that support biomimetic processes;
  • Pedagogical strategies and frameworks of biomimetics;
  • Education and training in the field of biomimetics.

Dr. Jacquelyn K. Nagel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bio-inspired design
  • biomimetic design
  • process
  • standards
  • methods
  • pedagogy
  • design study
  • education
  • training

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1484 KiB  
Article
The Education Pipeline of Biomimetics and Its Challenges
by Shoshanah Jacobs, Marjan Eggermont, Michael Helms and Kristina Wanieck
Biomimetics 2022, 7(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7030093 - 7 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3485
Abstract
Biomimetics must be taught to the next generation of designers in the interest of delivering solutions for current problems. Teaching biomimetics involves teachers and students from and in various disciplines at different stages of the educational system. There is no common understanding of [...] Read more.
Biomimetics must be taught to the next generation of designers in the interest of delivering solutions for current problems. Teaching biomimetics involves teachers and students from and in various disciplines at different stages of the educational system. There is no common understanding of how and what to teach in the different phases of the educational pipeline. This manuscript describes different perspectives, expectations, needs, and challenges of users from various backgrounds. It focuses on how biomimetics is taught at the various stages of education and career: from K-12 to higher education to continuing education. By constructing the biomimetics education pipeline, we find that some industry challenges are addressed and provide opportunities to transfer the lessons to application. We also identify existing gaps in the biomimetics education pipeline that could further advance industry application if a curriculum is developed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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12 pages, 1057 KiB  
Article
Beyond Structure-Function: Getting at Sustainability within Biomimicry Pedagogy
by Benjamin Linder and Jean Huang
Biomimetics 2022, 7(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7030090 - 6 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2928
Abstract
Biomimicry practice and pedagogy unify biology and design for problem solving inspired by nature. Pedagogy that supports biomimicry practice can facilitate the development of novel solutions to address societal needs and challenges. Even though biomimicry affords the possibility to address sustainability, its current [...] Read more.
Biomimicry practice and pedagogy unify biology and design for problem solving inspired by nature. Pedagogy that supports biomimicry practice can facilitate the development of novel solutions to address societal needs and challenges. Even though biomimicry affords the possibility to address sustainability, its current practice does not necessarily lead to doing so, which can result in exploitation of nature and increased unsustainability. Recognition of this risk exists but is not yet widespread in biomimicry pedagogy, and few structured methodologies are available to support learner’s efforts towards sustainability. The difficulties associated with incorporating sustainability within biomimicry are numerous and varied. In this report, we contribute to an understanding of incorporating sustainability in teaching and learning. We describe a pedagogical framing and conceptual scaffolding developed and used to bring sustainability into a biomimicry course for design- and biology-minded engineering students that integrates available biomimicry and design language, tools, and methods. We scaffold consideration of structure-function and conditions conducive to life separately, and then unify these perspectives in a way that is accessible to students. This approach centralizes sustainability in biomimicry practice and asks students to consider the ethics of design practice and responsibility to the natural world. We are encouraged by student outcomes, observing clear signs of creative systemic thinking and higher-level learning from nature. Based on pre- and post-design sprint results, students significantly shifted away from a narrower structure-function practice towards addressing conditions conducive to life. We propose that biomimicry educators and facilitators make a commitment to always include a sustainability approach within their pedagogy or explicitly acknowledge their delivery does not provide for it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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23 pages, 2547 KiB  
Article
Biomimicry Training to Promote Employee Engagement in Sustainability
by Sarah J. McInerney and Peter H. Niewiarowski
Biomimetics 2022, 7(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7020071 - 3 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3986
Abstract
Employees play a critical role in the success of corporate sustainability initiatives, yet sustained employee engagement is a constant challenge. The psychology literature states that to intrinsically motivate employees to engage in sustainability, there must be opportunity for employees to engage in practices [...] Read more.
Employees play a critical role in the success of corporate sustainability initiatives, yet sustained employee engagement is a constant challenge. The psychology literature states that to intrinsically motivate employees to engage in sustainability, there must be opportunity for employees to engage in practices that are directly relevant to their job duties. Traditional ad hoc initiatives such as Earth Week events, recycling challenges and so on, are not sufficient to derive this type of intrinsic motivation. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the psychological impact of a biomimicry sustainable innovation training program, to intrinsically motivate R&D employees to reconnect with nature and identify whether this promotes creative thinking and employee engagement. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the current study conducted virtual workshops with R&D employees and demonstrated that biomimicry training was intrinsically motivating to employees and was valued as a practice that could be incorporated into R&D job duties. In conclusion, this study provides an adaptable procedural template for biomimicry training with a corporate audience. The results demonstrate a strong business case for organizations to experiment with biomimicry by illustrating its potential to create positive change across several business units beyond sustainable innovation to include human resources and sustainable marketing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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19 pages, 2516 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Use of Bio-Inspired Design Tools by Industry Professionals
by Noah Pentelovitch and Jacquelyn K. Nagel
Biomimetics 2022, 7(2), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7020063 - 18 May 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4956
Abstract
Bio-inspired design (BID) has the potential to evolve the way engineers and designers solve problems. Several tools have been developed to assist one or multiple phases of the BID process. These tools, typically studied individually and through the performance of college students, have [...] Read more.
Bio-inspired design (BID) has the potential to evolve the way engineers and designers solve problems. Several tools have been developed to assist one or multiple phases of the BID process. These tools, typically studied individually and through the performance of college students, have yielded interesting results for increasing the novelty of solutions. However, not much is known about the likelihood of the tools being integrated into the design and development process of established companies. The mixed-methods study presented in this paper seeks to address this gap by providing industry engineers and designers hands-on training with the BID process and four BID tools. Understanding which tools are valued and could be adopted in an industry context is the goal. The results indicate multiple encouraging outcomes including that industry practitioners highly valued the process framework tool (BID canvas) as it allows for flexibility in tool use, as well as valued learning with a suite of BID tools rather than a single one to accommodate different workflows and ways of thinking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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11 pages, 834 KiB  
Article
Biomimetics Linked to Classical Product Development: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor to Develop a Technical Standard
by Kristina Wanieck, Leandra Hamann, Marcel Bartz, Eike Uttich, Markus Hollermann, Manfred Drack and Heike Beismann
Biomimetics 2022, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7020036 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3883
Abstract
Biomimetics is a well-known approach for technical innovation. However, most of its influence remains in the academic field. One option for increasing its application in the practice of technical design is to enhance the use of the biomimetic process with a step-by-step standard, [...] Read more.
Biomimetics is a well-known approach for technical innovation. However, most of its influence remains in the academic field. One option for increasing its application in the practice of technical design is to enhance the use of the biomimetic process with a step-by-step standard, building a bridge to common engineering procedures. This article presents the endeavor of an interdisciplinary expert panel from the fields of biology, engineering science, and industry to develop a standard that links biomimetics to the classical processes of product development and engineering design. This new standard, VDI 6220 Part 2, proposes a process description that is compatible and connectable to classical approaches in engineering design. The standard encompasses both the solution-based and the problem-driven process of biomimetics. It is intended to be used in any product development process for more biomimetic applications in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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21 pages, 7116 KiB  
Article
Building from the Bottom Up: A Closer Look into the Teaching and Learning of Life’s Principles in Biomimicry Design Thinking Courses
by Laura Lee Stevens, Michelle Fehler, Deborah Bidwell, Asha Singhal and Dayna Baumeister
Biomimetics 2022, 7(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7010025 - 5 Feb 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7996
Abstract
Biomimicry education is grounded in a set of natural design principles common to every known lifeform on Earth. These Life’s Principles (LPs) (cc Biomimicry 3.8), provide guidelines for emulating sustainable strategies that are field-tested over nearly four billion years of evolution. This study [...] Read more.
Biomimicry education is grounded in a set of natural design principles common to every known lifeform on Earth. These Life’s Principles (LPs) (cc Biomimicry 3.8), provide guidelines for emulating sustainable strategies that are field-tested over nearly four billion years of evolution. This study evaluates an exercise for teaching LPs to interdisciplinary students at three universities, Arizona State University (ASU) in Phoenix, Arizona (USA), College of Charleston (CofC) in Charleston, South Carolina (USA) and The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) in The Hague (The Netherlands) during the spring 2021 semester. Students researched examples of both biological organisms and human designs exhibiting the LPs. We gauged the effectiveness of the exercise through a common rubric and a survey to discover ways to improve instruction and student understanding. Increased student success was found to be directly linked to introducing the LPs with illustrative examples, assigning an active search for examples as part of the exercise, and utilizing direct assessment feedback loops. Requiring students to highlight the specific terms of the LP sub-principles in each example is a suggested improvement to the instructions and rubric. An iterative, face-to-face, discussion-based teaching and learning approach helps overcome minor misunderstandings. Reiterating the LPs throughout the semester with opportunities for application will highlight the potential for incorporating LPs into students’ future sustainable design process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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14 pages, 7563 KiB  
Article
Biomimetics and Education in Europe: Challenges, Opportunities, and Variety
by Olga Speck and Thomas Speck
Biomimetics 2021, 6(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics6030049 - 4 Aug 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 8928
Abstract
Biomimetics is an interdisciplinary field of science that deals with the analysis and systematic transfer of biological insights into technical applications. Moreover, the development of biomimetic products helps to improve our understanding of biological concept generators (reverse biomimetics). What does this mean for [...] Read more.
Biomimetics is an interdisciplinary field of science that deals with the analysis and systematic transfer of biological insights into technical applications. Moreover, the development of biomimetic products helps to improve our understanding of biological concept generators (reverse biomimetics). What does this mean for the education of kindergarten children, pupils, students, teachers, and others interested in biomimetics? The challenge of biomimetics is to have a solid knowledge base in the scientific disciplines involved and the competency to be open-minded enough to develop innovative solutions. This apparently contradictory combination ensures the transfer of knowledge from biology to engineering and vice versa on the basis of a common language that is perfectly understandable to everyone, e.g., the language of models, algorithms, and complete mathematical formulations. The opportunity within biomimetics is its ability to arouse student interest in technology via the fascination inherent in biological solutions and to awaken enthusiasm for living nature via the understanding of technology. Collaboration in working groups promotes professional, social, and personal skills. The variety of biomimetics is mirrored by the large number of educational modules developed with respect to existing biomimetic products and methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Process and Pedagogy)
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