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A paradigm shift: biomimicry: biomimicry is a new way of linking the human-made world to the natural world.

Article Excerpt
We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in the way we view and interact with the natural world. This new line of thinking--biomimicry--is already having a tremendous impact on the way we design technological products and systems. It is also an excellent example of the interdisciplinary nature of science and technology, which is an extremely important component of technological literacy (ITEA, 2000).

The word biomimicry comes from the Greek words bios (life) and mimesis (imitation). In short, biomimics imitate nature. We now have the capability, however, to not only imitate the products of nature but also nature's materials and processes. The three primary areas of biomimicry include using nature as a model, a standard of measure, and as a mentor (Benyus, 1997).

History of Biomimicry

We have always had a symbiotic relationship with nature to varying degrees. Early humans lived very closely with nature because it was vital for survival. Nomads would roam because they needed to find food, shelter, and clothing. When the resources in an area were consumed, they would move on to find new resources.

Early civilizations gained limited control over nature by domesticating animals and growing their own food. However, these civilizations still lived closer to nature than we do today because they were more dependent on nature to grow crops, provide medicines, and clean up their waste.

During the seventeenth century, the relationship between humans and the natural world changed in several ways. The biggest change was when science evolved as a separate field from natural philosophy. This happened, in large part, because many natural philosophers began to do things, not just talk and philosophize about them. People began breaking down the complex web of systems that tie the natural world together. A classic example is William Harvey, who discovered the circulation of blood. Before Harvey documented blood circulation as a system, people had no idea what blood was used for or the relationship between the lungs, heart, and other vital organs.

Technology began to play a vital role in this new discipline because scientists started to develop instruments to investigate the natural world. These events not only changed the way we learned about the natural world, but they also changed the way we taught. Colleges up to this point focused on classical languages, reading, writing, mathematics, philosophy, and history. Soon, however, colleges began to offer many specialized courses. This is what historians call reductionism because disciplines reduced their course offerings to very specific topics. For example, instead of a course on natural philosophy, colleges began to offer specific courses on astronomy (study of the heavens), entomology (study of insects), or other...