BIOMIMICRY DESIGN

Source: omgfacts.com

According to the Biomimicry Institute, a sustainable world had already existed through the eco-system and
biodiversity. It serves as an approach to research and innovations to continue the sustainability of our living and
challenges. Biomimicry imitates nature’s patterns, strategies and processes into new ways of sustainable living
and it is an organic way of solving our daily problems that we grapple with. This reading list contains over 50
publications mainly published mostly in the last 10 years and aims to give insight to the various topics.
The Library will periodically add new resources to this list. Links to the full text are indicated via the hyperlinks. If
you encounter any problems in retrieving the materials, please contact library@sutd.edu.sg for assistance.
Please forward us the titles that you would like to share with others on the list.

TOPICS
 OVERVIEW
 INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
a) ENERGY
b) ARCHITECTURE
c) MEDICINE
d) TRANSPORTATION
e) AGRICULTURE
f) COMMUNICATION
 INNOVATIONS BY NATURE
 LITERATURE REVIEWS
 COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
a) FABRICATION AND DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
 POSSIBLE FUTURE APPLICATIONS
a) PROTOTYPES AND TECHNOLOGIES

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OVERVIEW
What Biomimicry is about and how it gained momentum in the research field.

Biomimicry Institute. (2017). What is Biomimicry? Retrieved 2017, October 10 from https://biomimicry.org/what-is-
biomimicry/

Environment and Ecology. (2017). What is Biomimicry? Retrieved 2017, October 10 from http://environment-
ecology.com/biomimicry-bioneers/367-what-is-biomimicry.html

Everyday Mysteries. (2017, July 31). What is Biomimicry? Retrieved 2017, October 10 from
https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/biomimicry.html

CBID Centre for Biologically Inspired Design. (2017, November 16). Biomimicry Explained. Retrieved 2017, October
10 from http://www.cbid.gatech.edu/biomimicry_defined.html

Julian F.V.V, Olga A.B, Nikolaj R.B. Adrian B., & Anja-Karina P. (2006). Biometics, its practice and theory.
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1098/rsif.2006.0127

Kasandra Z.I., Zoran T. & Mislav A.O. (2014, March 25). Biomimicry An Overview. 5(1), 19-36.
http://hrcak.srce.hr/136003
Smithsonian Science Education Centre. (2014, July 31). Five Things to Know About Biomimicry. Retrieved 2017,
October 11 from https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/five-things-know-about-biomimicry

Francesco P.A., Sofiane A., Antonella M., & Catherine B. (2015, December 7). On designers’ use of biomimicry tools
during the new product development process: an empirical investigation. Taylor & Francis Online. 775-789.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2016.1236190

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INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

How Biomimicry inspires in shaping sustainable design and innovation in variety of fields.

a) ENERGY
Martin P., Raul J., Lahktia, Akhlesh. (2013, June). Engineered biomimicry for harvesting solar energy: A bird’s eye
view. International Journal of Smart & Nano Materials. 4(2),83-90. DOI: 10.1080/19475411.2012.663812.

Power Technology. Molly Lemprier. (2017, April 26). Could biomimicry revolutionaries renewable energy? Retrieved
2017, October 18 from http://www.power-technology.com/features/featurecould-biomimicry-revolutionise-
renewable-energy-5796192/

Pax Water Technologies. (2017). Designed by nature, backed by Science. Retrieved 2017, November 1 from
http://www.paxwater.com/biomimicry

Amaia Z.R., Cesar M.G., Javier B.B., Marina V.A., Enrique B. & Rafael M. (2016, January 19). Thermal energy
performance in working-spaces from biomorphic models: The tuna case in an office building. Springer Link. 9(3),347-
357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12273-016-0273-8

Daphne F.L. & Pravin B. (2017, August 22). Applying biomimicry to design building envelopes that lower eergy
consumption in a hot-humid climate. Taylor & Francis online. 60(5),360-370.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2017.1359145

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b) ARCHITECTURE
Biomimicry Architecture. (2012, April 15). http://www.biomimetic-architecture.com/

Arch Daily. (2017, February 15). Biomimicry with steel sheets: Designing “DNA” into materials can create
architecture that shapes itself. Retrieved 2017, October 19 from https://www.archdaily.com/tag/biomimicry

BBC. Michelle Douglass. (2015, September 16). Advances in digital technology and most recently 3D printing have
meant architecture can now boast shapes and structures inspired by the natural worlds that would have once been
impossible. Retrieved 2017, November 10 from http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150913-nine-incredible-
buildings-inspired-by-nature

Shaimaa E.G, & Gihaan M (2016, May 7). Nature influences on architecture interior designs. Science Direct, 34,573-
581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2016.04.050

Eastern Mediterranean University. Arash V. (2009). Nature as a source of inspiration of architectural conceptual
design. http://hdl.handle.net/11129/185

Michael J.M. (2012). Biomimicry: Using nature as a model for design. University of Massachusetts Amherst.
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1984&context=theses

c) MEDICINE
Asia Research News. Chong H.S. (2017, May 15) Microrobots Inspired by Nature. (2017), 04. Retrieved 2017, October
11 from
http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/10707/cid/3/research/medicine/dgist_daegu_gyeongbuk_institu
te_of_science_and_technology_/microrobots_inspired_by_nature.html

Ask Nature.Org. Seiji Aoyagi. (2015, September 9). Mosquito Inspired Miscroneedle. Retrieved 2017, October 11
from https://asknature.org/idea/mosquito-inspired-microneedle/#.Wg0WXVWWbIV

MIMS Today. Brenda L. & Luke A.T. (2016, December 25). 7 bio-inspired inventions that are transforming medicine.
Retrieved 2017, October 11 from https://today.mims.com/7-bio-inspired-inventions-that-are-transforming-medicine

d) TRANSPORTATION
It’s alive in the lab. Scott Sheppard. (2012, April 23). Eji Nakatsu: Lecture on Biomimicry as applied to a Japanese
Train. Retrieved 2017, October 19 from http://labs.blogs.com/its_alive_in_the_lab/2012/04/biomimicry-japanese-
train.html

Parqex. Christina Giordano. (2015, December 17). 3 Intriguing Technology Innovations in Transportation. Retrieved
2017, October 19 from https://www.parqex.com/3-intriguing-technology-innovations-in-transportation/

e) AGRICULTURE
The Guardian. Kristin Wong. (2015, October 30). Biomimicry: Using nature’s designs to transform agriculture.
Retrieved 2017, October 19 from https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/oct/30/biomimicry-
institute-sxsw-eco-agriculture-bioinspired

Food Politic. Chelsea Newson. (2013, March 19). Biomimicry and Agriculture: Sustainable Solutions Inspired by
Nature. Retrieved 2017, October 19 from http://www.foodpolitic.com/biomimicry-and-agriculture-sustainable-
solutions-inspired-by-nature/

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Sonoma State University. Biomimicry in Agriculture: Farming like a prairie.
http://web.sonoma.edu/exed/olli/docs/course-handouts/winter-2015/murphyweektwosoil.pdf

IJSR International Journal of Science and Research. Wail M.O. (2016). Biomimicry Applications in Agriculture to
Benefit from Water Renewable Resources, 5(2), 333-336. https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v5i2/NOV161144.pdf

Biomimicron. The Book of Mimicry of the Living. (2012, October 27). 3 biomimicry examples in one farming robot.
Retrieved 2017, October 19 from https://biomimicron.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/3-biomimicry-examples-in-one-
farming-robot/

Linkedin. Yulia Ivanova. (2016, February 3). Using biomimicry to create modular urban farming system. Retrieved
2017, October 19 from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/using-biomimicry-create-modular-urban-farming-system-
yulia-ivanova

Researchgate. Maibritt P.Z. (2014, April 10). Biomimetic approaches to architectural design for increased. SB07(33).
Retrieved 2017, October 21 from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237460476_BIOMIMETIC_APPROACHES_TO_ARCHITECTURAL_DESIGN_F
OR_INCREASED

Researchgate. Maibritt P.Z. (2009, April). An architectural love of the living: Bio-inspired design in the pursue of
ecological regeneration and psychological well-being. Retrieved 2017, October 21 from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261477280_An_architectural_love_of_the_living_Bio-
inspired_design_in_the_pursuit_of_ecological_regeneration_and_psychological_well-being

Maibritt P.Z. (2007, January). An ecosystem based biomimetic theory for a regenerative built environment. In
proceedings of the Lisbon Sustainable Building Conference (SB07 at Lisbon, Portugal.

f) COMMUNICATION
Biomimicry Institute. (2015, September 3). Evologic Underwater Sensor. Sensor for Earthquakes.
https://asknature.org/idea/evologics-underwater-sensor/#.Wg1BnFWWbIU

Stanford Engineering. Bjorn Carey. (2012, August 24). Stanford Biologist and Computer Scientist Discover the
‘anternet’. Retrieved 2017, November 8 from https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/article/stanford-biologist-
and-computer-scientist-discover-anternet

Next Nature.net. Deborah Gordon, (2013, October 7). What ant colony networks can tell us about what’s next for
digital networks. Retrieved 2017, November 8 from https://www.nextnature.net/2013/07/what-ant-colony-
networks-can-tell-us-about-what%E2%80%99s-next-for-digital-networks/

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INNOVATIONS BY NATURE
Insights of technologies and inventions inspired through nature.

Smithsonian.com. Randy Rieland. (2012, April 9). When animals Inspire Inventions. Retrieve 2017, October 18 from
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/when-animals-inspire-inventions-59895396/

Smithsonian.com. Tom Vanderbilt. (2012, September). How biomimicry is inspiring human innovation. Retrieve2017,
October 18 from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-biomimicry-is-inspiring-human-
innovation-17924040/

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Janine M.B. (1997, September 1). Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. ISBN: 0-06-053322-6. Harper
Perennial.

Bloomberg L.P. [US]. Amelia H. and Eric R. (2015, February 24). 14 Smart Inventions. Inspired by Nature: Biomimicry.
Retrieved 2017, October 11 from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2015-02-23/14-smart-
inventions-inspired-by-nature-biomimicry

Live Science. Tanya Lewis. (2013, April 22). Biomimicry: 7 Clever Technologies Inspired by Nature. Retrieved 2017,
October 16 from https://www.livescience.com/28873-cool-technologies-inspired-by-nature.html

Bullfrog Films. (2002). Biomimicry: Learning From Nature Part 1. Retrieved 2017, October 16 from
http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/bmic1.html

Bullfrog Films. (2002). Biomimicry: Learning From Nature Part 2. Retrieved 2017, October 16 from
http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/bmic2.html

City Lab. Linda Poon. (2016, September 6). A skyscraper made of bones: How biomimicry could shape the cities of
the future. Retrieved 2017, October 16 from https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/09/a-skyscraper-made-of-bones-
how-biomimicry-could-shape-the-cities-of-the-future/497969/

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LITERATURE REVIEWS
Maittbritt P.Z. (2014). Biomimetic approaches to architectural design for increased sustainability. Researchgate.net.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237460476_BIOMIMETIC_APPROACHES_TO_ARCHITECTURAL_DESIGN_F
OR_INCREASED

Gamage, Arosha, Hyde & Richard. (2012, August 1). A model based on biomimicry to enhance ecologically
sustainable design. Taylor & Francis Social Science & Humanities with Science & Technology. 55(3),224-235.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2012.709406

D.W. Repperger, C.A. Phillips, A. Neidhard Doll, D.B. Reynolds & J. Berlin. (2005, August 19). Actuator design using
biomimicry methods and a pneumatic muscle system. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conengprac.2005.06.009

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COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS:
How Biomimicry is applied in various methods and opens to business opportunities.

a) FABRICATION AND DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES

Gongyun C., Xiaojun Y., Kai M., Mengying L. & Wenli D. (2017, May 1). Roots hairs as biotemplates for fabricating
hollow double-layer CuO microtubes. 194,193-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.02.035

Jinyou L., Xianfeng W., Bin D., Jianyong Y., Gang S. & Moran W. (2012, June 7). Biomimicry via Electrospinning. Taylor
& Francis Online. 37(2),94-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408436.2011.627096

Peng S., Wang Q. & Yang Z. (2012, June 20). Biomorphic synthesis and gas response of In2O3 microtubules using
cotton fibers as templates. Science Direct. 168,421-428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.04.054

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Tong X.F., Sun K.W. & Chow D.Z. (2009, July). Biomorphic mineralization: From biology to materials. Science Direct.
54(5),542-659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2009.02.001

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POSSIBLE FUTURE APPLICATIONS

Testing, developing, and producing to enhance and create sustainability for the future.

a) PROTOTYPES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Ye L., Elisabeth G., & Yan Yan S.H., (2017, Mar 2). Microfluidic on-chip biomimicry for 3D cell culture: A fit-for-
purpose investigation from the end user standpoint. Future Science OA. 3(2). Doi: 10.4155/fsoa-2016-0084

Dongeun H., Yu-suke T., Geraldine A.H., Hyun J.K., & Donald E.I. (2012, May 3). Microengineered physiological
biomimicry: Organs-on-Chips. Royal Society of Chemistry. 12,2156-2164. DOI:10.1039/C2LC40089H

Aron K. & Tatnall R.L. (2011, March 3). Future robotics exploration using honeybee search strategy: Examples search
for caves on Mars. Science Direct. 68(11-12),1790-1799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.01.013

Alessandro P., Roberto M., Manuela S., Michael E., Jonathan O., Martinez A., Claudia C. & Ennio T. (2017, September
22). Bio-inspired engineering of cell and virus like nanoparticles for drug delivery. Science Direct. 147,155-168.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.09.020

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