Stuck for ideas about how to approach the term 3 topic - "How technology will work for us".
You might find this posting helpful as you clarify your thinking. Here are some ideas that either use or beg the use of, Technlogy!
This article reports on the effects of various technologies on the Yellow River in China. China has been engaged in a construction craze of hydropower plants in past decades, with an official mindset in which energy and economic benefits of the dams easily outweigh the possible negative environmental impact.
The country's economic boom has also peppered river banks with factories, many of which lack proper wastewater treatment facilities.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Fish-species-lost-in-Yellow-River/2007/01/18/1169095892929.html
While there has been a disaster, there is clearly an invitation to find a solution.
Room 14 have decided to investigate water issues around Nelson.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Janine Benyus and Biomimicry
Stuck for ideas about how to approach the term 2 topic - "Science in our lives"?
You might find this posting helpful as you clarify your thinking. Here are some perfect examples of how science has been utilised by some people to help solve just the kinds of problems we are interested in as part of our theme for 2007.
Janine Benyus is a life sciences writer and author of six books, including her latest -- Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. In Biomimicry, she names an emerging science that seeks sustainable solutions by mimicking nature's designs and processes (e.g., solar cells that mimic leaves, agriculture that looks like a prairie, business that runs like a redwood forest).
If you are short on ideas about how to address your term 2 topic try dipping into some of these websites on biomimicry. I heard her address to an Australian Press Association where she outlined some challenges and possibilities in taking design challenges that nature has solved and using the principles therein to solve other local, national and global problems.
You can hear a similar address at:
http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail241.html
This podcast is about 30 minutes in length. You might need some help actually making the audio work but it is worth seeking assistance to do that.
Other websites worth dipping into:
http://www.biomimicry.net/indexbiomimicryexp.htm
http://www.futurenet.org/article.asp?ID=448
http://www.bigpicture.tv/index.php?id=82&cat=&a=216
This site has a 4 minute sound bite
Janine's other titles include an animal behavior guide entitled Beastly Behaviors and three ecosystem-first field guides: The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Western US, The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Eastern US, and Northwoods Wildlife: A Watcher's Guide to Habitats. Janine ghostwrote The Bodywise Woman: Reliable Information about Physical Activity and Health for the Melpomene Institute for Women's Health Research.
If these sound heavy, don't be put off - just get the gist of what is being said and ask yourself, "How can I use this information to guide the choices I have to make as a teacher?" You will find inspiration for topic choice as well as methodology.
Janine Benyus described the work of Jay Harman - see for brief biographical http://www.jayharman.com/
Harman studied the way that organisms deal with the extreme flows of water. In particular he noted that kelp, despite the beating it takes with the tides, doesn't tear. It spirals so that water moves on through. This principle also occurs in shells and the xylem of trees. He used this observation to build propellors based on this geometry. They are quieter and more efficient than traditionally constructed propellers. So far, he's invented industrial designs for fans, pumps and propellers that mimic the geometries of spiraling whirlpools. Experts believe these designs can reduce friction, wasted energy, noise and unwanted heat.
See for more detail: http://news.com.com/Turning+natures+design+into+scientific+breakthrough/2100-1008_3-6044461.html
The culmination of Harman’s work in natural flow has been the development of the PAX Streamlining Principle, a guideline for translating nature’s extraordinary efficiencies into industrial applications such as pumps. Harman focused on the science and technology of fluid flow equipment during the 1990s, and began filing patents for PAX Scientific’s unique rotors. Harman’s goal is to show manufacturing industries that more efficient equipment is profitable for both shareholders and the planet.
We don't have to be privy to the physics of the working details of Harman's work, it's what his approach might mean for us as teachers that is what is important. For example, the way he observed natural phenomenon, posed questions about what the observations meant and how that knowledge can be turned to applications that can improve our world is what is important. How can we replicate that way of working with our children?
Another person whose work Benyus cited was Michael Pearce who has specialised in the development of buildings which have low maintenance, low capital and running costs and renewable energy systems of environmental control. The most recent work involves developing passive control systems in small-scale single storey buildings as well as large-scale commercial multi-storey buildings using building methods which rely even less on imported materials, technologies or human resources. He has been closely involved in the development of rammed earth construction for low cost housing in remote locations in Zimbabwe where transport and energy are the largest costs in producing buildings.
See the following address for details: http://www.architectsforpeace.org/mickprofile.html
This is another fascinating story of observation (of termites!) used to solve an architectural problem. The citation for an award is worth reading for the termite story.
Malcolm Condon's work in designing filtration systems based on observations of the Baleen whale was alos used as an example of engineering mimicing nature. The Baleen filter solves a long-standing problem associated with fine screening methods, i.e. the ability to effectively separate concentrated fines, as well as troublesome debris such as grit, biodegradable matter,fibrous material and grease, from water based waste streams. It achieves this through a unique self-cleaning mechanism inspired by nature. Malcolm Condon of Baleen Filters Pty Ltd, Australia, explains.
The website on baleen filters: http://www.baleenfilters.com/about.asp reports as follows:
The word ‘Baleen’ is an anatomical description for the whalebone that belongs to a group of filter-feeding whales.The baleen is essentially the filter mechanism that enables the whale to collect plankton, small fish and other marine organisms from the water during feeding.
The combination of a sweeping action of the tongue and the reversing of the water flows as the whales dive and re-surface during feeding, enable them to capture and strain food, then clean their baleen prior to the next dive. The Baleen Filter technology is an adaptation of this natural technique used by whales to keep their baleen clean and free from long-term deposits.
If you are interested in the technical blurb and its application try:
http://www.stockyardindustries.com/baleen_filter.htm
http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=51&area=2&c=51194
http://www.eco-web.com/register/05654.html
Peter Andrews work on 'Natural sequence farming' ought to resonate with us. See http://www.naturalsequencefarming.com/ You might be tempted to buy that book and that would be great but check out other links on this page first.
Described as a man who reads and understands the Australian landscape better than most scientists, supporters of Peter Andrews claim he has done what no scientist ever thought to do – he has restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. The startling results of his ‘natural sequence farming’ are said to have been achieved very cheaply, simply and quickly.
Check out http://www.nsfarming.com/ to find out more about Peter's work on Natural Sequence Farming (NSF).
For a list of dicussion papers on the subject go to- http://www.nsfarming.com/principles.html
What does all this mean for the teacher?
The details of most of the work described by Benyus are beyond me but as a teacher I would be looking for the key principles or drivers behind this kind of work to see how I could use it to inform my term 2 teaching plan.
If you are short on ideas about how to address your term 2 topic try dipping into some of these websites on biomimicry. I heard her address to an Australian Press Association where she outlined some challenges and possibilities in taking design challenges that nature has solved and using the principles therein to solve other local, national and global problems.
You can hear a similar address at:
http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail241.html
This podcast is about 30 minutes in length. You might need some help actually making the audio work but it is worth seeking assistance to do that.
Other websites worth dipping into:
http://www.biomimicry.net/indexbiomimicryexp.htm
http://www.futurenet.org/article.asp?ID=448
http://www.bigpicture.tv/index.php?id=82&cat=&a=216
This site has a 4 minute sound bite
Janine's other titles include an animal behavior guide entitled Beastly Behaviors and three ecosystem-first field guides: The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Western US, The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Eastern US, and Northwoods Wildlife: A Watcher's Guide to Habitats. Janine ghostwrote The Bodywise Woman: Reliable Information about Physical Activity and Health for the Melpomene Institute for Women's Health Research.
If these sound heavy, don't be put off - just get the gist of what is being said and ask yourself, "How can I use this information to guide the choices I have to make as a teacher?" You will find inspiration for topic choice as well as methodology.
Janine Benyus described the work of Jay Harman - see for brief biographical http://www.jayharman.com/
Harman studied the way that organisms deal with the extreme flows of water. In particular he noted that kelp, despite the beating it takes with the tides, doesn't tear. It spirals so that water moves on through. This principle also occurs in shells and the xylem of trees. He used this observation to build propellors based on this geometry. They are quieter and more efficient than traditionally constructed propellers. So far, he's invented industrial designs for fans, pumps and propellers that mimic the geometries of spiraling whirlpools. Experts believe these designs can reduce friction, wasted energy, noise and unwanted heat.
See for more detail: http://news.com.com/Turning+natures+design+into+scientific+breakthrough/2100-1008_3-6044461.html
The culmination of Harman’s work in natural flow has been the development of the PAX Streamlining Principle, a guideline for translating nature’s extraordinary efficiencies into industrial applications such as pumps. Harman focused on the science and technology of fluid flow equipment during the 1990s, and began filing patents for PAX Scientific’s unique rotors. Harman’s goal is to show manufacturing industries that more efficient equipment is profitable for both shareholders and the planet.
We don't have to be privy to the physics of the working details of Harman's work, it's what his approach might mean for us as teachers that is what is important. For example, the way he observed natural phenomenon, posed questions about what the observations meant and how that knowledge can be turned to applications that can improve our world is what is important. How can we replicate that way of working with our children?
Another person whose work Benyus cited was Michael Pearce who has specialised in the development of buildings which have low maintenance, low capital and running costs and renewable energy systems of environmental control. The most recent work involves developing passive control systems in small-scale single storey buildings as well as large-scale commercial multi-storey buildings using building methods which rely even less on imported materials, technologies or human resources. He has been closely involved in the development of rammed earth construction for low cost housing in remote locations in Zimbabwe where transport and energy are the largest costs in producing buildings.
See the following address for details: http://www.architectsforpeace.org/mickprofile.html
This is another fascinating story of observation (of termites!) used to solve an architectural problem. The citation for an award is worth reading for the termite story.
Malcolm Condon's work in designing filtration systems based on observations of the Baleen whale was alos used as an example of engineering mimicing nature. The Baleen filter solves a long-standing problem associated with fine screening methods, i.e. the ability to effectively separate concentrated fines, as well as troublesome debris such as grit, biodegradable matter,fibrous material and grease, from water based waste streams. It achieves this through a unique self-cleaning mechanism inspired by nature. Malcolm Condon of Baleen Filters Pty Ltd, Australia, explains.
The website on baleen filters: http://www.baleenfilters.com/about.asp reports as follows:
The word ‘Baleen’ is an anatomical description for the whalebone that belongs to a group of filter-feeding whales.The baleen is essentially the filter mechanism that enables the whale to collect plankton, small fish and other marine organisms from the water during feeding.
The combination of a sweeping action of the tongue and the reversing of the water flows as the whales dive and re-surface during feeding, enable them to capture and strain food, then clean their baleen prior to the next dive. The Baleen Filter technology is an adaptation of this natural technique used by whales to keep their baleen clean and free from long-term deposits.
If you are interested in the technical blurb and its application try:
http://www.stockyardindustries.com/baleen_filter.htm
http://www.sacentral.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=51&area=2&c=51194
http://www.eco-web.com/register/05654.html
Peter Andrews work on 'Natural sequence farming' ought to resonate with us. See http://www.naturalsequencefarming.com/ You might be tempted to buy that book and that would be great but check out other links on this page first.
Described as a man who reads and understands the Australian landscape better than most scientists, supporters of Peter Andrews claim he has done what no scientist ever thought to do – he has restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. The startling results of his ‘natural sequence farming’ are said to have been achieved very cheaply, simply and quickly.
Check out http://www.nsfarming.com/ to find out more about Peter's work on Natural Sequence Farming (NSF).
For a list of dicussion papers on the subject go to- http://www.nsfarming.com/principles.html
What does all this mean for the teacher?
The details of most of the work described by Benyus are beyond me but as a teacher I would be looking for the key principles or drivers behind this kind of work to see how I could use it to inform my term 2 teaching plan.
- What principles do people engaged in biomimicry use?
- What skills are required to work i n the way these people do?
- How can a replicate these on the same or perhaps different phenomenon with my class?
- What are the pedagogical issues I need to address?
- What are the opportunities I need to create?
- What support will my children need?
- Who can help me to do this work?
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