Learning Journey

LEARNING JOURNEY PROJECTS

biomimicrySA began supporting a Learning Journey of workshops and projects from 2012. The aim of the Learning Journey is to support capacity building for biomimicry practitioners in South Africa. To qualify individuals to complete a number of workshops run by biomimicrySA and partners - each of which build on the biomimicry knowledge and skills of local biomimicry practitioners. Workshops include:

  • Introduction to Biomimicry run by biomimicrySA
  • Biomimicry Life's Principles run by biomimicrySA
  • The Business of Biomimicry run by Elspeth Donovan of the Cambridge Program for Sustainability Leadership
  • Systems Thinking and Biomimicry run by Genius Works & biomimicrySA
  • Biomimicry Expedition (optional)
  • and others...for more information on the workshops see the courses page.

In addition to the workshops, participants in the Learning Journey work on a 6 month practical project with mentoring support from the biomimicrySA team. Some of the project topics are listed below. Projects include integrating biomimicry into your field of work/education curriculum, community projects, design innovation, research, etc.

 

Learning Journey Projects 2012

Some of the projects receiving mentorship from biomimicrySA in 2012 include:

  1. Urban agriculture in the Johannesburg CBD - a biomimicry perspective. More info on this project is included below.
  2. Learning from nature to enhance Spier biodynamic farm's wastewater management system. A summary of the results of this project will be posted shortly.
  3. A biomimicry approach for pathogen removal from wastewater. Results will be posted shortly.
  4. A biomimicry approach for water flow in constructed wetlands. Results will be posted shortly.
  5. Rethinking urban growth in the City of Cape Town. The results of this project will be posted shortly.
  6. Designing innovative biomimicry education materials inspired by nature. The Biomimimajig developed by the design team on this project will be published in mid 2013.
  7. Redesigning a surfboard using biomimicry (can one be designed that meets all of Life's Principles?). Project will be completed in March 2013.
  8. Rethinking the plastic bag - how would nature make plastic....?
  9. Engineering design and maintenance - how would nature inspire a different approach?
  10. Biomimicry applied to the design of an eco-village in the Eastern Cape.
  11. Disaster management - how can nature enhance resilience before and after disaster?
  12. How does nature take collective decisions - applying biomimicry in organisations.

1. A Growing City - Agriculture and Food Security in a Growing Urban Context (Johannesburg CBD), IAN TARBOTON, Masters in Architecture

 

 

There are different kinds of growth, some of which are beneficial to life and some not. Sometimes it may look good on the surface but underneath the surface the roots are rotten and diseased. Physical growth is often related to food and resources, while mental health is related to stress. What can be found is that often different types of growth are in competition with one another. This is what is happening between our urban industrial systems and our food systems. They are competing for the same land at the expense of each other.

 

This thesis delves into the various systems that affect urban growth and agricultural growth in the South African context. When looking at food security in the South African context, one finds that even though the country as a whole is food secure, a large portion of the population are still hungry and malnourished. One finds further that food insecurity is not an isolated problem – there are numerous issues of concerns which share the same roots. These issues and concerns are in fact linked to the stresses that can affect wellbeing.

 

Thus this thesis explores how physical health and mental wellbeing can come together in the production of a farm which heals a scar in the inner city landscape. Through considering the effects that urban conditions have on humans in contrast to the effects that the natural environment has on humans, this thesis addresses a design problem which seeks to unite the

two extremes. It seeks to join the city with agriculture, allowing the city to continue expanding without losing arable land, and agriculture can improve the quality of the inner city. The design is formulated through response to context and climate, using biomimicry as a tool to create conditions conducive to life.

 

For more information contact Ian Tarboton: symphian[a]gmail.com

 

 

2. Applying Biomimicry to Wastewater Treatment in a Biodynamic Winery - Stellenbosch (NADIA SANETRA & MARGAUX THOMAS)

 

 

This project is part of the first ever Biomimicry South Africa Learning journey. On this journey students learn and apply the Biomimicry methodology to a real life challenge.

 

At the start of the project, after a visit and workshop by Fungi Perfecti, the focus was largely on mycofiltration for the treatment of winery wastewater.  From here the investigation into Biomimetic technologies quickly expanded to include other ideas and designs.  Throughout the project there was enthusiastic participation from experts in the field of water treatment including Andrew Hulsman from HWT, Nirmala Nair from ZERI, Jacques Rossouw, Environmental Manager at Distell and Alan Liebenberg Manager at Intaka Island, Century City.

 

The project looked at current and emerging Biomimetic techologies and how they could be applied to the farm's wastewater treatment system.  The list of technolgies mentioned is by no means complete.  New designs are being brought onto the market all the time.  It is however our intention to make a contribution to the rapidly growing and evolving dicipline of Biomimicry. Our most important discovery has been that water, like soil, should be regarded as a living organism.

 

 

For more information on this project, contact Nadia: nadiasanetra[a]googlemail.com