Photo: “Scales” by andredekesel is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
RESOURCES
We have gathered a treasure chest of our favourite resource links. Feel free to email us your favourites too.
Nordic Council of Ministers – Study and publication on Biomimicry
The publication, ‘Biomimicry in the Nordic Countries’, was published in 2018 and supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers Working Group for Sustainable Consumption and Production. It is a comprehensive study that highlight Nordic forerunners in Biomimicry and actors and activities in the field of biomimicry, biomimetics and biologically inspired design in Nordic countries today. The study is conducted by Torben Lenau, Lilli Linkola and Anna Maria Orrù.
Den Uppfinningsrika Planeten: Biomimikry och naturens lösningar på vår tids utmaningar
The publication, ‘The Inventive Planet: Biomimicry and nature’s solutions to the challenges of our time ‘, was published in April 2021 by Nature & Kultur. It is the first book in Swedish to be fully dedicated to Biomimicry in which the book’s author Fredrik Moberg, a biologist, aims to highlight the endless possibilities of Biomimicry.
Biologically Inspired Design: a primer by Torben A. Lenau, Akhlesh Lakhtakia (2021). The publication is an overview of biologically inspired design presented in simple terms for anyone. It is a collaborative publication between two bio-inspired educators. Torben A. Lenau located in Denmark (Denmark Technical University) and Akhlesh Lakhtakia in the United States (Pennsylvania State University).
This is a comprehensive portal to nature’s knowledge. In 2008, the Biomimicry Institute in the United States, launched an online catalogue called AskNature which today contains a wealth of information from nature’s solutions to design challenges.
This is a rich and beautiful source of nature’s highlights, design ideas and nature thinking. ZQ is a digital magazine which publishes content in the Science & Nature categories. Their mission is to showcase the nexus of science and design in the field of biologically inspired design, using case studies, news and articles that are exemplary in their impact on the field, rigorous in their methodology, and relevant to today’s reader. They are a partner with Ask Nature.
The Biomimicry Institute, a non-profit organisation, brings together resources for adapting biomimicry. For example, they have designed a series of life principles to bring about a solution that is environmentally-led and sustainable and that can be used for different challenges. The institute is located in Montana (USA), and was founded in 2006 by biologist Janine Benyus and social entrepreneur Bryony Schwan. Check out their toolbox!
Books
Biomimicry – general introduction
- Den uppfinningsrika planeten: Biomimicry och naturens lösningar pågår tids utmaningar – Fredrik Moberg (2021)
- Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature– Janine Benyus (1997)
- Zygote Quarterly – A beautifully designed digital magazine with a treasure of nature’s designs
- Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies – Editor Yoseph Bar-Cohen (2005)
- Nature and Design II –Editor M. W. Collins (2004)
Architecture & Design
- Biomimicry in Architecture – Michael Pawlyn (2016)
- Bio Design – Paola Antonelli & William Myers (2017)
- Biomimetics for Designers: Applying nature’s processes & materials in the real world – Veronika Kapsali (2016)
- The Shark’s Paintbrush: Biomimicry and How Nature is Inspiring Innovation – Jay Harman (2013)
- Biomimetics in Architecture – Petra Gruber (2010)
Entrepreneurial & Organisations
- The Blue Economy – Gunter Pauli (2014)
- Teeming – How Superorganisms Work Together to Build Infinite Wealth on a Finite Planet – Tamsin Woolley-Barker (2017)
- Reinventing Organisations – Frederic Laloux (2014)
- Regenerative Leadership – Laura Storm & Giles Hutchins (2019)
- The Smart Swarm: How to Work Efficiently, Communicate Effectively, and Make Better Decisions Using the Secrets of Flocks, Schools, and Colonies – Peter Miller (2011)
- The Nature of Investing – Katherine Collins (2014)
- The Nature of Business: Redesigning for Resilience – Giles Hutchins
- Future Fit – Giles Hutchins (2016)
- Companies that Mimic Life – Joseph Bragdon (2016)
Circular Thinking
- Permaculture: Principles and Pathways beyond Sustainability – David Holmgren (2002)
Material Thinking
- Structural Biomaterials: (3rd Edition) – Julian F.V. Vincent (2012)
Nature Thinking
- Honeybee Democracy – Thomas D. Seeley (2010)
- Life’s Devices: The Physical World of Animals and Plants – Stephen Vogel (1988)
- Extraordinary Insects – Anne Sverdrup-Tygeson (2019)
- Patterns in Nature – Phillip Ball (2016)
- Biophilia – Edward O. Wilson (1984)
- The Gecko’s Foot: Bio-Inspiration, Engineering New Materials and Devices from Nature – Peter Forbes (2005)
- Losing Eden: Why our minds need the wild – Lucy Jones
Reports & Publications
- Tapping into Nature: The future of energy, innovation and business – Terrapin Bright Green: Smith, Bernett, Hanson & Garvin (2015)
Childrens Books
- Djur med Superkrafter – Ulla Karlsson Ottosson, Rabén & Sjögren (20121)
Podcasts
- What would nature do? – Guest: Anna Maria Orrù – Material Perspektivet Podcast
- The Bioneers Radio – Browse through the different interviews on all things around nature
- Biomimicry: Borrowing from Biology – The Naked Scientists Podcast
- Biomimicry, Resilience & Economies of the future – Guest: Beth Rattner – The Hive Podcast
Videos
- Biomimicry in action – Janine Benyus TED talk (2009)
- Biomimicry’s surprising lessons from nature’s engineers– Janine Benyus TED talk (2007)
- Examples of biomimicry – Janine Benyus treeTV (2015)
- Applying the principles of biomimicry to business – Wiebke Liu TEDxOlympicBlvdWomen
- Designed with the earth in mind – Beth Rattner TEDxSacramentoSalon
- Using Nature’s genius in architecture – Michael Pawlyn TED talk
- The Blue Economy – Gunter Pauli TEDx talk
- Designing form inspired by nature – Neri Oxman
- Biomimicry and Circular economy – Gretchen Hooker and Colin Webster
Other websites
- Circulab – Circular Economy training and tools
- Ellen McArthur Foundation – Accelerating the transition to a circular economy (lots of resources!)
- Circular Design Guide – By Ellen McArthur Foundation and IDEO
- Biomimicry 3.8 – Innovation consultancy, professional training, educational training
- Regenerators – A collective dedicated to a new regenerative paradigm
- The Biomimicry Education Network – Ressources for teachers and educators (now part of Asknature.org)
- Honeybee Capital Foundation – Biomimicry in finance by Katherine Collins
- Teem Innovation Group – Dr. Tamsin Woolley-Barker’s works on nature inspired organisations and leadership
- Terrapin Bright Green – a variety of publications
- The Bioneers – Innovative nonprofit educational organisation
- Biomimicry Innovation Lab (UK) – The UK network’s website
- Biomimetic Sciences Institute – Spain’s platform to biomimetics ‘Instituto de Ciencias Biomiméticas (BSI)’
- BioTRIZ methodology – This is a methodology using biology for inventors
- Encyclopedia of Life – A resource of wealth into nature
- Biomimicry Student Design Challenge – annual competition in Biomimicry for students
- BioMimetic Ontology – Tool designed by Prof. Julian Vincent
We have endeavoured to provide you with links to the original publishers or author’s websites. Nordic Biomimicry does not support large mass book webshops and we encourage you to support small local bookstores when purchasing any of these fantastic books. If you are having trouble finding local sources, please contact us and we would be happy to help out.