Biomimetics in education – a pathway to interdisciplinary competencies

Biomimetics is an interdisciplinary science that deals with the analysis and systematic transfer of biological insights into technical applications. Furthermore, in the process of reverse biomimetics, the development of biomimetic products improves the understanding of biological concept generators. What does this mean for the education of kindergarten kids, pupils, students, teachers and others interested on biomimetics and bio-inspiration?

The challenge is to have a solid knowledge base in the scientific disciplines involved on the one hand and to be open-minded enough to develop innovative solutions on the other hand. This apparently contradictory combination ensures the transfer of knowledge from biology to engineering and vice versa on basis of a language that is perfectly understandable by everyone – such as the language of models, algorithms and complete mathematical formulations.
The opportunity is to arouse students' interest for technology through the fascination of biological solutions and to awaken the enthusiasm for living nature through the understanding of technology. Additionally, brand-new biomimetic results are very likely to be quickly transferred to educational modules for all age groups. The collaboration in working groups promotes professional, social, and personal competencies.

The diversity is mirrored by a large number of different educational modules developed with respect to bioinspired and biomimetic products already on the market. These modules such as the online available biomimetic quiz, the BionicsLab with six simple experiments on biomimetic products and the corresponding learning and teaching material, the fluidic muscle consisting of a balloon together with a fruit net and two cable fixers and much more are available either in the Internet or as publications.

Specifically, in my keynote I will focus on the theoretical and practical experiences with respect to the development of educational modules in biomimetics and for a better understanding I will present selected hands-on experiments as well.