Biomimicry Design Challenge
Students of Bio Inspired Innovation joined the Global Biomimicry Design Challenge. They used the Biomimicry method to design solutions to prevent, combat or to endure the effects of climate change. Here you can find an overview of the submissions from all the Utrecht University teams.
2023
This year’s CorAlgarden and Durabite use a favorite strategy of nature: it’s better to seduce than to reduce. Coral garden uses a structure that stimulates algae growth to solve the problem of uncontrolled algae growth due to eutrophication. Durabite seduces mice to nibble a product that reduces their sexual appetite while preventing structure to human structures.
Both create a dynamic equilibrium. For Durabite that means that Mice remain at a level that is bearable and provides food for wild life instead of the current cycle of extermination and recurring plagues once the predators have died or gone away to find food in other places. CorAlGarden creates pockets of nutrients that will attract more species that will decrease the growth of algae resulting in a set dynamic balances.
The other two designs/innovations of this year’s Design Challenge are Elephantiles and Debacter. Both have taken already well known biological models, respectively elephant hide and microstructures that prevent biofilming, and integrated them into existing products. Potentially producing passive circular solutions that will reduce energy and materials.