John Longchamps

Denise DeLuca

Biomimetic Design

MCAD | Summer 2015

Discover: Assessment of environmental conditions of

national labor market needs.

Project Objective: Establish a context-adaptive agile framework to support

national youth employment and career development in the United States through

local modes of implementation.

Purpose of this exercise:

Identifying organisms that perform the function of environmental

assessment to provide natural inspiration for the project

functionality, “assessing environmental conditions of national labor

market needs,” in support of the objective, “supporting youth

employment and career development.”

Function being addressed: Assessment of environmental conditions of

national labor market needs.

Organisms that Perform this Function

The following organisms perform functions-of-interest and were

identified through the AskNature platform.

1. Hairs Sense Environmental Cues: Insects

“Socketed hairs of insects detect environmental stimuli through

vibration.” (asknature.org)

"Most insects have socketed hairs (sensory setae) scattered over much

of the body which vibrate in response to sounds and may also be

sensitive to touch, humidity and light. Locusts use those on the head,

between the antennae, to judge the direction and humidity of the

breeze, and climb some eminence for this purpose. Subsequently, they

may use the information thus gained to fly to areas of low pressure

where rain is likely to induce lusher feeding pasture." (Wootton

1984:48)

Strategies Utilized:

Synergies, systemic – Ability to perceive and act on external

indicators to lead to better resource options

Form – socketed hairs are shaped in a way that optimizes

sensitivity to touch, humidity, and light.

2. Capsules Launch Seeds: Namaqualand Mesems

“The seeds of many Mesembryanthemums are launched from their capsules

for dispersal thanks to a valve mechanism that uses rainwater as a

trigger.” (asknature.org)

"Most of the Namaqualand mesems [Mesembryanthemums], as they are known

for short, do not scatter their seeds after flowering but retain them

in capsules. The structure of these devices is usually very intricate

indeed. When the first rain falls, perhaps as a short and isolated

shower, the capsules absorb moisture and swell, causing a star-shaped

set of valves to open. But even now the seeds are not shed. That must

wait for a second shower. Then a raindrop striking a valve operates a

mechanism that flings out the seeds for a distance of yards."

(Attenborough 1995:278)

Strategies Utilized:

Mechanical Process – utilizing redundancy in a 2-phase seed

release process.

Systemic – Relying on environmental indicators to actuate the

mechanical seed release process ensures optimal growing

conditions.

3. Fire Opens Seed Capsules: Banksia

“Seeds of Banksia plants are dispersed via two-valved seed capsules

that open in high fire temperatures.” (asknature.org)

"Banksias are spectacular evergreen bushes and trees related to the

proteas of South Africa but, with the exception of one whose range

extends into the Pacific, they are totally restricted to Australia. Of

the 75 or so species that exist, 60 grow only in this south-western

corner [of Australia]. Their strange inflorescences consist of several

thousand small florets massed together in a single spike and arranged

in vertical lines, that in some species have a gentle spiral

twist…They take several months to develop and then open over several

weeks. Birds such as lorikeets and marsupials like the honey possum

come to drink nectar from them and in the course of doing so pollinate

them. Usually, however, only a small proportion of the florets produce

seed. In some species, those that are unsuccessful remain attached to

the flower head, forming a grey rather bristly fur…It takes about a

year for the seeds to mature. Like the bottlebrush, some banksias will

not shed their seeds unless there is a fire. Indeed, it is almost

impossible to remove them from the plant because they are held in hard

woody two-valved capsules. But as the flames scorch the branches, the

intense heat causes the capsules to open. Their front ends resemble

pairs of brown lips on the side of the furry spike…By releasing their

seeds only in the wake of a fire, the banksias ensure that they will

fall on well-cleaned, brightly-lit ground recently fertilised with ash

and so get the most favourable of starts in what is, even at best, an

extremely harsh and demanding environment." (Attenborough 1995:188-

190)

Strategies Utilized:

Robust Materials – Hard wood shells protect the seeds. In fact

the shell is so strong that it requires a forest fire to be

cracked open.

Systemic – Relying on environmental indicators to actuate the

mechanical seed release process ensures optimal growing

conditions.

Applied Biomimetics

I find the banksia seed to be the most applicable to my project as it

is a robust strategic model for its ability to not only survive, but

thrive in disadvantaged conditions. The banksia actually transforms

what would kill most organisms into what gives it new life! This will

have significant applications for empowering vulnerable youth. The

utilization of mechanically actuating seed release processes is also

inspiring, and can be translated to the project objective of analyzing

current “harsh” labor market conditions.