Name: _______________________________________________ Date: _______________ Block: __________
AP BIOLOGY: BIOMIMICRY IN ACTION
In Honors Earth Science*** you listened to a TedTalk given by Janine Benyus on the topic of Biomimicry. You
answered a few questions about how certain organisms’ designs can be useful in the real world. Here is the
definition of Biomimicry from Janine Benyus:
“Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a design discipline that seeks sustainable
solutions by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies, for example, a solar cell inspired by a leaf. The goal is
to create products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul.
Biomimicry thinking helps create products and processes that are sustainable, perform well, save energy, cut material
costs, redefine and eliminate “waste”.”
You can read more about these solutions on the AskNature.org website under the tab ABOUT.
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
Janine Benyus and other scientists have created a website (AskNature.org) that will gather scientific
information to answer this question -
“What can we learn from this organism?”
Log onto the website AskNature.org and choose one of the questions on the home page (topics rotate) and then
click on STRATEGY. Write a complete summary explaining all facets of your selected topic.
ASSIGNMENT
1. ORGANISM
2. SUMMARIZE
3. APPLICATION
4. REFERENCE
SECTION
5. VOCABULARY
DESCRIPTION
Write a brief description of the inspiring organism. You
may have to get outside information
Summarize strategy
How would this strategy be used in the real world? Give
an example. What companies would be able to use this?
List three types of sources that are cited in the reference
section.
Choose three vocabulary words in the article that are new
to you and define them.
AskNature Nugget Videos Extra Credit +1 submitted with Essay
POINTS
3
10
3
1
3
20
On the main page at the top click on the drop down menu of FEATURES. Click on
Nugget Videos. Choose one of the videos that interest you.
Title of Video
Organism
Biological strategy
***If you did not watch the TedTalk you can Google search TEDTALKS and select TALKS. Under the search bar type
in BIOMIMICRY IN ACTION. Wait for the video to load. Janine Benyus’ talk will run for 17:39 minutes.