Janine Benyus

Last updated

Janine M. Benyus
Born1958 (age 65–66)
New Jersey
Alma mater Rutgers University
Known for Biomimicry
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg "The Promise of Biomimicry", Janine Benyus, January 23, 2020
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Biomimicry, Tree Media, September 11, 2015
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Janine Benyus, Innovator in the Field of Biomimicry - Heinz Award, November 19, 2021
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Biomimicry as a Cooperative Inquiry - Bioneers, Janine Benyus with introduction by Paul Hawken, 2016

Janine M. Benyus (born 1958) is an American natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author. After writing books on wildlife and animal behavior, she coined the term Biomimicry to describe intentional problem-solving design inspired by nature. Her book Biomimicry (1997) attracted widespread attention from businesspeople in design, architecture, and engineering as well as from scientists. Benyus argues that by following biomimetic approaches, designers can develop products that will perform better, be less expansive, use less energy, and leave companies less open to legal risk. [1] [2]

Contents

Life

Born in New Jersey, Benyus graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with degrees in natural resource management and English literature/writing. [3] Benyus has taught interpretive writing and lectured at the University of Montana, and worked towards restoring and protecting wild lands. [4] She serves on a number of land use committees in her rural county, and is president of Living Education, a nonprofit dedicated to place-based living and learning. [5] Benyus lives in Stevensville, Montana. [6]

Biomimicry

Benyus has written a number of books on animals and their behavior, but is best known for Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature (1997). In this book she develops the basic thesis that human beings should consciously emulate nature's genius in their designs. She encourages people to ask "What would Nature do?" and to look at natural forms, processes, and ecosystems in nature [7] [8] to see what works and what lasts. [1]

If you go into the world with an attitude of deep and reverent observation, you don't go with a pre-formed hypothesis. I am much more excited by staying open so that I can absorb something I could never have imagined.... That deep observation is a different kind of scientific inquiry. It may allow me to find something new while someone who is prejudging, someone with a hypothesis, will only see what affirms the hypothesis. If you go out waiting to be amazed, more may be revealed. [9]

Benyus articulates an approach that strongly emphasizes sustainability within biomimicry practice. sometimes referred to as Conditions Conducive to Life (CCL). [10] Benyus has described the development of sustainable solutions in terms of "Life’s Principles", emphasizing that organisms in nature have evolved methods of working that are not destructive of themselves and their environment. “Nature runs on sunlight, uses only the energy it needs, fits form to function, recycles everything, rewards cooperation, banks on diversity, demands local expertise, curbs excess from within and taps the power of limits”. [11]

In 1998, Benyus and Dayna Baumeister co-founded the Biomimicry Guild [1] [12] as an innovation consultancy. Their goal was to help innovators learn from and emulate natural models in order to design sustainable products, processes, and policies that create conditions conducive to life. [13] [1]

In 2006, Benyus co-founded The Biomimicry Institute with Dayna Baumeister and Bryony Schwan. [14] Benyus is President of the non-profit organization, [15] whose mission is to naturalize biomimicry in the culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design. [2] In 2008 the Biomimicry Institute launched AskNature.org, "an encyclopedia of nature's solutions to common design problems". [16] The Biomimicry Institute has become a key communicator in the field of biomimetics, connecting 12,576 member practitioners and organizations in 36 regional networks and 21 countries through its Biomimicry Global Network as of 2020. [2]

In 2010, Benyus, Dayna Baumeister, Bryony Schwan, and Chris Allen formed Biomimicry 3.8, connecting their for-profit and nonprofit work by creating a benefit corporation. Biomimicry 3.8, which achieved B-corp certification, [17] [18] [19] offers consultancy, professional training, development for educators, [17] and "inspirational speaking". [20] [21] [22] Among its more than 250 clients are Nike, Kohler. Seventh Generation and C40 Cities. [23] [12] By 2013, over 100 universities had joined the Biomimicry Educator’s Network, offering training in biomimetics. [17] In 2014, the profit and non-profit aspects again became separate entities, with Biomimicry 3.8 engaging in for-profit consultancy and the Biomimicry Institute as a non-profit organization. [24]

Benyus has served on various boards, including the Board of Directors for the U.S. Green Building Council and the advisory boards of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and Project Drawdown. Benyus is an affiliate faculty member in The Biomimicry Center at Arizona State University. [25]

Beynus' work has been used as the basis for films [26] including the two-part film Biomimicry: Learning from Nature (2002), directed by Paul Lang and David Springbett for CBC's The Nature of Things and presented by David Suzuki. [27] She was one of the experts in the film Dirt! The Movie (2009) which was voiced by Jamie Lee Curtis. [28]

Authored works

Awards and honors

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biomimetics</span> Imitation of biological systems for the solving of human problems

Biomimetics or biomimicry is the emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. The terms "biomimetics" and "biomimicry" are derived from Ancient Greek: βίος (bios), life, and μίμησις (mīmēsis), imitation, from μιμεῖσθαι (mīmeisthai), to imitate, from μῖμος (mimos), actor. A closely related field is bionics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservation in Australia</span>

Conservation in Australia is an issue of state and federal policy. Australia is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, with a large portion of species endemic to Australia. Preserving this wealth of biodiversity is important for future generations. 25% of Australia is managed for conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Land Institute</span> American nonprofit organization

The Land Institute is an American nonprofit research, education, and policy organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture, based in Salina, Kansas. Their goal is to develop an agricultural system based on perennial crops that "has the ecological stability of the prairie and a grain yield comparable to that from annual crops".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bionics</span> Application of natural systems to technology

Bionics or biologically inspired engineering is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design engineering systems and modern technology.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to environmental studies:

Bionic architecture is a contemporary movement that studies the physiological, behavioural, and structural adaptions of biological organisms as a source of inspiration for designing and constructing expressive buildings. These structures are designed to be self-sufficient, being able to structurally modify themselves in response to the fluctuating internal and external forces such as changes in weather and temperature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Baumeister</span>

Christian Baumeister is a German cinematographer and award-winning director focusing on nature and wildlife productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Design Futures Council</span>

The Design Futures Council is an interdisciplinary network of design, product, and construction leaders exploring global trends, challenges, and opportunities to advance innovation and shape the future of the industry and environment. Members include architecture and design firms, building product manufacturers, service providers, and forward-thinking AEC firms of all sizes that take an active interest in their future.

The Earth Awards is an aspirational platform for consumer-driven ideas that challenge designers and innovators to build a new economy. It is an annual competition since 2007, aiming to "transform visionary ideas into market-ready solutions by offering finalists the unique opportunities to pitch their project to world business leaders". The Awards are open to students, graduates and industry professionals - the public is invited to submit innovations to be judged.

The Biomimicry Institute is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2006 and based in Missoula, Montana in the United States. Its goal is to help innovators learn from nature in order to design sustainable products, processes, and policies in response to real-world problems. The Biomimicry Institute has become a key communicator in the field of biomimetics, connecting thousands of practitioners and organizations across the world. Its Global Network currently supports 38 regional networks across 26 countries as of 2022. The Biomimicry Institute was founded by Bryony Schwan, Dayna Baumeister and Janine Benyus and originated following the publishing of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine Benyus; a natural sciences writer, innovation consultant and author.

IDEAS For Us is a United Nations–accredited non-governmental organization which works to advance sustainability through local action projects in countries and on campuses around the world. IDEAS For Us focuses on reaching communities furthest from sustainable development and advancing the global goals for sustainable development by helping to develop, fund, and scale local action projects from within communities which have the potential to grow into ongoing programs. IDEAS For Us has three major programs: Fleet Farming, the Hive, and the Solutions Fund.

This is a bibliography of sustainability publications.

Biomimetic architecture is a branch of the new science of biomimicry defined and popularized by Janine Benyus in her 1997 book. Biomimicry refers to innovations inspired by nature as one which studies nature and then imitates or takes inspiration from its designs and processes to solve human problems. The book suggests looking at nature as a Model, Measure, and Mentor", suggesting that the main aim of biomimicry is sustainability.

<i>Love Thy Nature</i> 2014 American film

Love Thy Nature is a 2014 documentary film directed by Sylvie Rokab and narrated by Liam Neeson. The film underwent development in the mid-2000s, with production lasting nearly a decade. Produced and distributed by In The Light Productions, the first version of the film premiered on 18 October 2014 at the Hollywood Film Festival, with a film festival run throughout 2014 and 2015 and a theatrical run with the final version of the film in 2016. It has had over 300 theatrical and community screenings in 140 cities in 16 countries, earned 27 awards, and was covered in 28 publications.

Ecopreneurship is a term coined to represent the process of principles of entrepreneurship being applied to create businesses that solve environmental problems or operate sustainably. The term began to be widely used in the 1990s, and it is otherwise referred to as "environmental entrepreneurship." In the book Merging Economic and Environmental Concerns Through Ecopreneurship, written by Gwyn Schuyler in 1998, ecopreneurs are defined as follows:

"Ecopreneurs are entrepreneurs whose business efforts are not only driven by profit, but also by a concern for the environment. Ecopreneurship, also known as environmental entrepreneurship and eco-capitalism, is becoming more widespread as a new market-based approach to identifying opportunities for improving environmental quality and capitalizing upon them in the private sector for profit. "

Michael Pawlyn is a British architect noted for his work in the field biomimetic architecture and innovation, as well as jointly initiating the 'Architects Declare' movement in the UK. He was part of the principal team of architects that conceived and designed The Eden Project and is a regular keynote speaker at events on innovation and environmental sustainability. His best selling RIBA book Biomimicry in Architecture was published in 2011 and a revised second edition, with a foreword by Ellen MacArthur, was published in 2016. He was one of the three founders of The Sahara Forest Project - a way of supplying fresh water, food and renewable energy in arid conditions - and remains actively involved as a Founding Partner and Design Manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exploration Architecture</span>

Exploration Architecture was established in 2007 by architect Michael Pawlyn.

Bioinspiration is the development of novel materials, devices, and structures inspired by solutions found in biological evolution and refinement which has occurred over millions of years. The goal is to improve modeling and simulation of the biological system to attain a better understanding of nature's critical structural features, such as a wing, for use in future bioinspired designs. Bioinspiration differs from biomimicry in that the latter aims to precisely replicate the designs of biological materials. Bioinspired research is a return to the classical origins of science: it is a field based on observing the remarkable functions that characterize living organisms and trying to abstract and imitate those functions.

Hao Yan is a Chinese-American chemist, a (bio)molecular designer, programmer and engineer.

Javier G. Fernandez is a Spanish physicist and bioengineer. He is associate professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. He is known for his work in biomimetic materials and sustainable biomanufacturing, particularly for pioneering chitin's use for general and sustainable manufacturing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bernstein, Amy (August 28, 2006). "Janine Benyus: The Thought Leader Interview". strategy+business. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 MacKinnon, Rebecca Barbara; Oomen, Jeroen; Pedersen Zari, Maibritt (September 2020). "Promises and Presuppositions of Biomimicry". Biomimetics. 5 (3): 33. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics5030033 . ISSN   2313-7673. PMC   7557929 . PMID   32660092.
  3. 1 2 Busari, Stephanie (July 7, 2008). "The Nature of Things: Janine Benyus Biography - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ Hill, Heidi (February 7, 2005). "Janine Benyus to Speak on Sustainable Solutions". The University of Vermont. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Janine Benyus". Dirt! The Movie. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  6. ↑ Chevalier, Jessica (2018). "Focus on Leadership: A talk with Janine Benyus, founder of the biomimicry movement". Floor Daily. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Casey, Helen Marie. "What Is Biomimicry? | The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning & Dialogue | Cambridge, MA". www.ikedacenter.org. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. ↑ Westervelt, Janine Benyus. "Janine Benyus". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Janine Benyus | The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning & Dialogue | Cambridge, MA". www.ikedacenter.org. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  10. ↑ Linder, Benjamin; Huang, Jean (September 2022). "Beyond Structure-Function: Getting at Sustainability within Biomimicry Pedagogy". Biomimetics. 7 (3): 90. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics7030090 . ISSN   2313-7673. PMC   9326754 . PMID   35892360.
  11. ↑ Althen, Aline (April 22, 2015). "The nature of LEED: How natural laws inspire and inform green building | U.S. Green Building Council". U.S. Green Building Council. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Hayes, Megan (August 15, 2018). "Janine Benyus on 3.8 billion-year-old solutions to today's design challenges". Appalachian Today. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ Donoff, Elizabeth (July 30, 2009). "One-on-One with Janine Benyus Championing nature as the source for sustainable design solutions". Architect. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  14. ↑ "The Biomimicry Institute empowers people to create nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet". Biomimicry Institute. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  15. ↑ Bonime, Western (July 12, 2020). "Biomimicry: Using Nature's Perfect Innovation Systems To Design The Future". Forbes. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ Wendt, Allyson (December 4, 2008). "AskNature.org Connects Designers to Biomimicry Research". BuildingGreen. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Benyus to receive honorary degree". ASU News. April 5, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Biomimicry 3.8 - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global". www.bcorporation.net. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  19. ↑ Merritt, Elizabeth (June 20, 2017). "To B Corps or not to B Corps—A Case Study". American Alliance of Museums. Center for the Future Of Museums Blog. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  20. ↑ "About - Bryony Schwan Consulting - Missoula, Montana". Bryony Schwan Consulting. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  21. ↑ Scanlon, Jessie (April 7, 2016). "Janine Benyus Looks to Nature for Design Inspiration". Bloomberg. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ Zari, Maibritt Pedersen; Connolly, Peter; Southcombe, Mark (July 7, 2020). Ecologies Design: Transforming Architecture, Landscape, and Urbanism. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-000-06651-7.
  23. ↑ "Work Examples". Biomimicry 3.8. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Biomimicry Institute". G20 Insights (in German). Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Janine Benyus: Co-founder Biomimicry Institute". The National Association for Environmental Management. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  26. 1 2 "Janine Benyus". WINGS WorldQuest. August 13, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Biomimicry: Learning from Nature - Part 1". Bullfrog Films. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  28. ↑ "The Experts". Dirt! The Movie. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  29. ↑ "ASID Announces 2019 College of Fellows Inductees". American Society of Interior Designers. May 17, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Pioneers in technology, biodiversity to receive Stibitz, Wilson awards Oct. 2". Montana State University. September 11, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Janine Benyus, winner of the Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development 2013 | Chalmers". www.chalmers.se. January 26, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  32. ↑ "2012 National Design Award Winners | Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum". Cooper Hewitt. August 23, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  33. ↑ Hoyt, Alex (September 16, 2011). "Naturalist Janine Benyus Honored with Heinz Award". Architect magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Janine Benyus, Special focus on the environment". Heinz Awards. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  35. ↑ Lovins, Amory B. (October 17, 2007). "Heroes of the Environment - TIME". Time.
  36. ↑ "Friends of the Library banquet honors two Montana writers". Mass Hall to Main Street. The University of Montana. March 24, 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
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