Randfontein’s very own snake and scorpion expert, Jonathan Leeming spoke to the Herald about biomimicry, what it is and why it’s important in nature.
He explained biomimicry as a framework that examines the natural world for solutions to the challenges of our time by focusing on aligning these solutions to natural principles instead of going against them.
Jonathan said it operates on three levels:
• Ethos – An understanding that we are part of nature and not excluded from natural principles
• Emulate – Examining how different facets of the natural world are ideally designed to take advantage of today’s world. This design works on three levels:
• Form – such as how the mouthparts of a mosquito can help us design better hypodermic needles
• Process – the way in which a part of something works, such as scorpion venom, and it’s remarkable ability to treat some of the most debilitating diseases of our time
• System – how groups of natural assets perform a function, such as a wetland, and how it removes pollution and filters water
• Reconnect – Making a conscious effort to understand nature and live our lives according to natural principles. We live on a planet with finite resources, so if we pollute the environment or destroy it, we are in essence polluting and destroying ourselves.
Biomimicry is important right now because our outdated values and beliefs of consumption and waste served us well in a previous decade, but now that we are reaching a world population of eight billion people we can’t afford this kind of lifestyle. We have no choice but to change our values and beliefs according to the requirements of our time, and biomimicry creates a shift in mindset that is so desperately needed right now.”
He incorporates biomimicry into his walks where they examine aspects of the environment and discuss the biotechnology and biomimicry, and what they can learn from it.
“I like to use examples that are common, seemingly mundane; or examples that challenge values and beliefs. A tree is a good example of a common aspect of the environment that we don’t consider as offering biotechnology. Scorpions are another good example, as many people are afraid of them, but they offer biotechnologies that will save the lives of literally hundreds of millions of people worldwide.”
According to Jonathan there are aspects of nature that are so familiar to us that we don’t really think about how they are designed and how they function. He said even on a hot, dry and dusty day, flowers are always clean because of the surface micro-texture of the flower, and how this texture repels dust.
He said an example of biomimicry that we use today is the shape of an aeroplane wing; and another good example that touches the lives of literally millions of people worldwide are blood-pressure medication.
“This medication is based upon an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) which was derived from a South American snake. This life-saving pharmaceutical created an entire new class of drugs that keep people alive.”
He said participants in a biomimicry walk learn to increase their awareness to the world around them, how we are tied to natural principles, and how we can live better lives if we just take a step back from modern life, breathe little and focus upon self-development. He added that it’s about learning how to ‘see’ again.
The epiphany point of the walk is when I flip the focus from how parts of the environment are designed to make the most of the current requirements of our time, and focus upon how we are designed. What are those areas of our lives that we can align to natural principles that will make our lives better and more meaningful?”
Jonathan’s next biomimicry walk is on June 26 from 12:00 to 14:00 at Kloofendal Nature Reserve.
More details and a link to the online booking can be found at www.scorpions.co.za/biojune/.
