Janine Benyus

Biomimicry pioneer Janine Benyus and creative practitioner Azita Ardakani Walton discuss nature's guidance, healing from trauma, functioning like an ecosystem, and making a real kinship offering to the world. They explore mimicking nature in projects, historical ecological shifts, balancing command-control and adaptability in organizations, the moral paradox of capitalism, connectivity design, and communication in nature, and the intersection of biomimicry and humanitarian ventures.

Janine Benyus, a renowned biologist and author, dives into the revolutionary concept of biomimicry, emphasizing how nature's designs can inspire sustainable innovation. She discusses the shift towards designs that promote life and the potential for nature to guide solutions in energy, food storage, and governance. Notably, her insights into biodegradable packaging showcase innovative responses to food waste. Janine calls for a cultural shift, urging us to reconnect with nature to foster resilience and ecological health through community engagement.

In this podcast, Christiana Figueres and guests explore humanity's disconnection from nature and the consequences of this separation. They discuss the influence of beliefs on our relationship with the environment, including the impact of colonialism. The conversation delves into religious narratives and the need to shift towards a more interconnected view of nature. The episode also highlights the importance of nurturing new stories to address contemporary challenges.

Janine Benyus, a biologist and the co-founder of the Biomimicry Institute, shares her transformative vision of design inspired by nature. She passionately discusses how ecosystems can guide sustainable solutions, from resource management in forests to fish aerodynamics. Janine emphasizes the need for humanity to harmonize with nature, exploring concepts like biodiversity and mutuality. She urges listeners to mindfully integrate biomimicry into their daily decisions, revealing that nature already holds the answers to many of our challenges.

Japan’s Shinkansen doesn’t look like your typical train. With its long and pointed nose, it can reach top speeds up to 150–200 miles per hour. It didn’t always look like this. Earlier models were rounder and louder, often suffering from the phenomenon of "tunnel boom," where deafening compressed air would rush out of a tunnel after a train rushed in. But a moment of inspiration from engineer and birdwatcher Eiji Nakatsu led the system to be redesigned based on the aerodynamics of three species of birds. Nakatsu’s case is a fascinating example of biomimicry, the design movement pioneered by biologist and writer Janine Benyus. This is one of a series of design videos we're launching in partnership with Vox. Biomimicry Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel here: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.