Check out our "Biomimicry" interactive Web feature.
	Watch a clip from Part 1 of "Biomimicry: Learning From Nature"
	Watch a clip from Part 2 of "Biomimicry: Learning From Nature"

The two part series Biomimicry: Learning From Nature, is based on the acclaimed book, "Biomimicry, Innovation Inspired by Nature", by Janine Benyus.

The biomimics goal is to find benign and sustainable ways to meet our needs for food, materials, medicine, and energy. By beginning to learn from nature biomimics are finding out that, in all her activities, nature creates conditions conducive to life. In answer to their question, 'How shall we live?', the biomimics have realized one very important, and hopeful fact: we are surrounded by genius.

Janine Benyus

The television programs put us in touch with several men and women who believe our teachers are all around us. These biomimics hope to become more like our fellow earthlings-the ecological survivors who have prospered for millions of years - that is, in benign ways, and without consuming their ecological capital.

After decades of research into the lives of insects, bivalves, plants and mammals biomimics are uncovering major insights into how life occurs. Their explorations of nature aren't so much "about" nature in order to circumvent or control her. Instead, biomimics are guided by humility as they begin to learn "from" nature so we can learn to fit in alongside the rest of nature, at last and for good.

The working titles for the programs are Making Things Parts 1 and 2. In each we will focus in greater detail on the quest of several scientists. As an indication of the importance we attach to the materials we used over the years we've even organized our history under them - the Iron, Bronze, and Copper Ages etc. The shows will interweave several layers of storytelling including the scientific and personal set within our cultural and historical context. Our central goal in making the programs is to foster a greater understanding in the general public of the need to learn from nature to meet our needs and to provide them with examples of how this can work.

The two programs are being produced by Michael Allder, the executive producer of The Nature of Things. The programs are directed and edited by Paul Lang, and produced by Paul Lang and David Springbett.

Relevant Links and contacts:
(Note: these links will open in a new browser window. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites.)

	http://www.biomimicry.net/
	Wes Jackson The Land Institute
	Laura L. Jackson Ph.D. Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa
	Interface, Inc.
	Devens Gust Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Arizona State University
	Thomas A. Moore Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Arizona State University
	Ana Moore Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Arizona State University
	James E. Guillet Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories, University of Toronto
	Dr. Geoffrey Coates Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
	David Oakey David Oakey Designs
	Herbert Waite Marine Science Institute & MCDB Dept., University of California
	Robin L. Garrell Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, UCLA
	Daniel E. Morse Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara
	C. Jeffrey Brinker Sandia National Laboratories, The University of New Mexico
	Peter Rieke Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
	Paul Calvert Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona Tucson