Biomimicry always seems like a bit of a tongue-tie for me and if you do not really see through a scientific lens it may seem daunting. After hearing Rob Janisch talk about the Genius of Nature, I started to be more attracted to the idea that it is not as daunting as I thought but rather important, especially as a ranger, to be more aware of how the natural world around us can be helpful to humankind if we just observe and listen to it.

There were eight words that Rob said, “to learn from nature rather than about nature.” These words hit me, it was more like turning on my dim lightbulb because it was a reminder to not just blurt out all the facts I know about that one animal and rather understand how it adapted and how we as humans can learn from it to help us survive and become more regenerative. The simple question that we should all be asking ourselves is “How would nature solve this?” more wise words from Rob.

The further you dive into this idea of learning from nature to create, the more you realise how obvious it is to create from the natural world around you that has been surviving for many years before the human species. Mother nature is a powerful force that adapts to change far better than we do as humans.

Carl Sagan put the evolution of life into the most mind-blowing perspective. He put 13.8 billion years of the Universe’s existence into one calendar year. Bare with me here:

• The Big Bang Theory (formation of Earth) happened at midnight on the 1st of January.
• The 2nd of September our solar system comes into existence.
• On the 9th of December were the first signs of early life.
• Between the 17th and 24th of December the start early plants, fish, and reptiles.
• On the 24th of December- the Permian extinction (250 million years ago when 80% of the planet’s species died off).
• The 25th of December- the existence of dinosaurs.
• The 27th of December- the existence of flowering plants and birds.
• The 3oth of December- the extinction of dinosaurs.
• Then comes mammals and primates.
• The 31st of December-all the history of humanity recorded.
• A minute and a half before midnight- humans stand up and start using tools.
• 30 seconds before midnight- when we discovered fire.
• 8 seconds before midnight- when hunter-gatherers roamed.
• 4 seconds before midnight- everything we consider modern human history.

Another way to put the life history of Earth in clock form.

Take a moment and think about this…

Rob gave us an activity to do during his talk. He divided the room into two groups. One group was given a few man-made objects like concrete brick, plastic, and a ball of cotton. The second group was given natural objects like a seedpod, a sausage tree fruit, a leopard orchid stalk, and bark.

A sausage tree with its fruits drooping down.

The man-made object group’s task was to think of natural objects that could replace man-made objects and the other team had to think of what we could make from natural objects to help humans with designs or uses.

For example, the man-made group said instead of using concrete we could use compacted termite mound mud or elephant dung, or even compacted fungi blocks that have the strength of a brick.

The Xinkhova Female strategically sits on top of a termite mound to scan.

An example the natural team used was direct mechanisms that they could use like sticky parts of plants that could create glue or velcro. But what Rob said made us think deeper than that. Why do they do what they do? What is the purpose of bark, is it just a leaf or is it a charged battery creating its own energy?

We are a part of nature. Look closer and you can see this.

I then started to think about the sausage tree fruit and leopard orchid that was in front of me, we were going to say the use of the fruit for human benefits like making a paste from the fruit for skin benefits, and that the inside of the fruit could be used as a sponge.

Then we started to think deeper. What is the purpose of this fruit or this orchid? What can we as humans learn from them?

A fruit’s purpose is to be eaten. It is meant to attract an animal to eat it so that its seeds can be transported for germination. We can use this idea for marketing purposes, how do we become the fruit?

In the case of the leopard orchid, it is an epiphyte. A leopard orchid is a self-sustaining plant that grows on another plant without harming the other plant in any way. What can we learn from this? The first idea that popped into my head was we as humans should try to live on the land without harming it and to try to create a culture where we can be more self-sustaining, in fact, my first thought was Londolozi as it is a testament to this.

A leopard orchid

Scientists discovered many fascinating ways to create from natural models by thinking like this. Here are some examples:

• Elephant trunk- highly efficient and agile robotic arms.
• Devil’s thorn weed- water-based cleaning agent.
• Hippo skin enzymes- protective coatings for UV, bacteria, and infection.
• Cheetah limb anatomy- speed and efficiency of movement.

There are three essential elements that we should be asking nature:

1. (Re)Connect

Humans must reestablish their relationship with nature. Become more aware that we as an individual and species are not separate from nature. We are nature. We are a part of nature.

2. Emulate

To create a more regenerative future. using scientific research on nature’s forms, processes, and ecosystems by replicating nature’s designs.

3. Ethos

To understand that we have a responsibility to conserve and protect all the nature-inspired innovations that we have learned from.

Next time you are sitting in your backyard or on a safari I recommend trying to quiet your mind, look around you and observe, listen carefully, and think beyond just the natural object that is in front of you. Then ask nature the question?

Remember to always give thanks to nature! Once you have found your answer always end with reverence and gratitude to the natural world.