Biomimicry for Materials, Design and Habitats

Nonlinear multifunctional systems that have a symbiotic relationship with their environment are the domain of nature. Living systems have evolved innovative solutions to challenges that humans face on a daily basis. Mosquitos can teach us to make hypodermic needles, jet engines can learn from harbor seal whiskers and cacti may show us how to extract water from Mars. Therefore, it is in nature that we seek inspiration for the solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. Biomimicry for Materials, Design and Habitats: Innovations and Applications in Materials, Design and the Built Environment is a survey of the recent work of recognized experts in a variety of fields who employ biomimicry and related paradigms to solve key problems of interest within science, technology and society. The topics covered include innovations from biomimicry in materials, product design, architecture, and biological sciences. This book will be a useful resource for researchers, engineers and materials scientists taking them from the theory behind biomimicry to real world applications. Presents new directions and the various applications of biomimicry within industryDiscusses the role of biomimicry in innovation and product designCovers applications in systems engineering and design, novel materials and structures design, architecture and life in hostile environmentsIncludes perspectives on sustainability and the incorporation of biomimicry into that realm