ODTÜ NOTE-TAKING AND WRITING

You will listen to a lecture on BIOMIMICRY. While listening, take notes on the main points and details
(e.g. examples, statistics, or figures).

At the end of the lecture, you will be asked to respond to a prompt by using the notes you have
taken. You will have 20 minutes to write your response. You will hear the lecture only once. Your
notes will NOT be graded.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BIOMIMICRY

Introduction:

The imitation of biological models

The resource efficiency

Linear systems and closed-loop systems

Integration with the environment

Now, respond to the following prompt in about 150 words.

Based on the lecture, explain the principles of biomimicry.

In your response, make sure you:

 include all the main points and details,

 do NOT include your own views, and
 use accurate language.

You have 20 minutes to complete the task.

Write your response in the box provided on the answer sheet. Do not write on the backside of the
paper. Anything written outside the box will NOT be marked.

SAMPLE ANSWER

BIOMIMICRY (NOTE-TAKING AND WRITING SAMPLE)

The lecture defines the principles of biomimicry. The first principle mentioned by the lecturer is the
imitation of biological models. It means imitating a biological form for a purpose; for instance, gliding
birds inspired the first flying machines. The second principle is resource efficiency, which means using
the resources smartly. The speaker mentions the Eden project, in which pressurized membranes
found in nature were used as a clue to solve the problem of construction limits to glass sizes and
helped make savings. Turning linear systems into closed-loop systems is the third principle
mentioned in the lecture. In linear systems things are used and thrown away; however, in closed-
loop systems, nothing ends up as garbage. The speaker talks about the caviar project, in which
cardboard collected from restaurants are made into horse beds, recollected and used in worm
composting. These worms are fed to fish which produce caviar, which was then sold to restaurants.
The last biomimicry principle mentioned by the speaker is integration with the environment.
Accordingly, people and nature are part of a system and they have to change the way they perceive
the world by becoming ecologically literate. They should stop seeing what can be extracted from
nature and concentrate on fitting in on earth. (206 words)