As a regional hub of The Biomimicry Group, biomimicrySA promotes the study and imitation of nature’s remarkably efficient designs, bringing together scientists, engineers, architects and innovators who can use those models to create sustainable technologies. The Biomimicry Group’s process of consulting life’s genius utilises a clear, proven design methodology, complete with effective implementation tools, developed over a decade of work with companies, entrepreneurial organisations, universities, governments, and non-profits. biomimicrySA inspires, educates, enables & connects biomimics in South Africa through:
Presentations
Education/Training
- Schools: For scholars and educators (including support for integrating biomimicry into relevant curricula)
- Universities: For students and educators in all disciplines (including support for integrating biomimicry into relevant departments)
- Field Guides: Tailor-made training for individual guides or through private lodges/FGASA affiliated institutions. Guides are interacting with a wide range of people every day, out in nature, and have the ideal opportunity to share the inspiration and potential of biomimicry to local and interantional visitors. Biomimicry offers an inspiring new lense for exploring the bush/beach giving guides an extra edge that their guests will love. We are in the process of developing a FGASA affiliated specialty training for guides. Contact us to find out more.
- Professionals: including designers, architects, engineers, biologists, business, etc. (Find out more in the courses and innovation sections of this website)
- General: anyone interested in learning more about biomimicry
Networking
InnovationConsulting
Research
Objectives
The strategic goals for South Africa mirror The Biomimicry Group’s global goals. While these goals are ambitious, they are founded on several years of success to date in other places. We are very excited about this work and the potential it has to contribute to the immense task we have ahead of us to address sustainability challenges. We believe biomimicry can play a key role in finding solutions.
Education & Training
Our goal is to implement biomimicry into relevant education and training curricula for schools, students (particularly in the fields of design, architecture, engineering, biology, business, field guiding) and professionals training (including the same fields as for students, as well as relevant government departments and research institutions). We also aim to implement relevant biomimicry content and informal education programs at zoos, aquariums and certain museums. The short-term objectives are to partner with key institutions and form networks with educators and professional institutions to pilot biomimicry education and training initiatives. Our long-term objectives are to enable biomimicry to be integrated into curriculum on a boader scale where feasible. We also aim to host a range of biomimicry workshops to suit a variety of audiences, to inspire and inform through public presentations and the media, as well as to support the growing biomimicry network in South Africa through local network meetings. We also connect our local networks with international biomimicry networks and aim to participate in the biomimicry conferences internationally.
Innovation
We aim to inspire and enable biomimicry innovation in South Africa and beyond, through the training we offer as well as through promoting & supporting design challenge projects. We also aim to enable meaningful biomimicry innovation in African organisations by leveraging local and international networks to undertake relevant biomimicry research and development. We also aim to leverage these networks to provide biomimicry consulting and training services to local companies and organisations to assist them in implementing biomimicry innovation.