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Summer 2012 Newsletter

In this quarterly edition, we are pleased to announce the 2013 Bioinspiration Conference, highlight regional partner activities, share how inspiration from nature is being applied in the medical field, recap some of our outreach events, announce our new Twitter postings, and showcase inspiring animal adaptations from the San Diego Zoo Global collection.

Save the Date: 2013 Bioinspiration Conference
Bridging Nature and Design

Imagine medical transportation simplified by looking to the flight of dragonflies, protective body armor inspired by the armadillo shell, or drug delivery improvements inspired by the mosquito. The natural world represents a tremendous resource for novel and transformative innovation. Since 2008, industry and academic leaders have convened at the San Diego Zoo for our annual bioinspiration conference. This August 29-31, we are pleased to participate as a partner of the Biomimicry Europe Innovation and Finance Summit 2012. Held at the Zurich Zoo, attendees will enjoy the Zoo’s unique setting, while gaining insights on the advancement of bioinspired innovation. For additional information, please visit www.biomimicry.ch.

On October 23-24, 2013, we will continue this conversation by highlighting paths and pitfalls of bioinspired innovation, field advancements, and financial models to support the translation of natural adaptations into industry solutions.  The 2013 San Diego Zoo Global Bioinspiration Conference, Bridging Nature & Design, will host 250 attendees at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an expansive 1,800-acre wildlife sanctuary. This immersive two-day experience unlike any other, will blend interactive speaker sessions, innovation case studies, bioinspired design workshops, and exclusive Safari caravan tours. Check in with our website or in this newsletter for announcements.

BRIDGE: A Model for Collaboration and Growth

San Diego is a well-established hub for leading research, cross sector collaboration, and sustainability efforts. As Mayor Jerry Sanders stated: "We see innovation for sustainability as a strategic area of economic opportunity for the region, and are actively supporting several world leading initiatives, including the Biomimicry BRIDGE, a partnership between the San Diego Zoo, the City of San Diego, CONNECT, and the four universities in town: UCSD, SDSU, USD and PLNU.” Founded in 2009, this regional collaboration aims to foster and catalyze bioinspiration. We are pleased to begin including a partner highlight in upcoming newsletters to showcase such advancements:

 UCSD High School Introduction to Biomimicry Course

UCSD K-16 Programs and San Diego Zoo Global are partnering to offer an introductory high school bioinspiration class. Students will learn the fundamental principles that shape man-made and natural designs through hands-on classroom activities, conservation-based animal demonstrations and adaptation scavenger hunts at the San Diego Zoo. Click here to learn more and register. 

Medical Improvements Across Species Divide

Species adaptations have many applications to medical practices. As our Fall 2011 Reception speaker Dr. Richard Lieber shared, studying species morphology can lead to improvements in human athletic performance. Now, veterinary and medical experts are collaborating to provide improved healthcare for human and animal health. This effort, led by UCLA cardiologist Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and author Kathryn Bowers, includes a multi-university research initiative, Oprah-selected book, and annual Zoobiquity conference. To learn more, please visit www.zoobiquity.com

Over the summer, we have conducted a wide array of outreach programs, corporate innovation workshops, and introductory sessions connecting natural inspiration to industry innovation. Attendees of the 2012 Sustainable Brands Conference experienced an introductory workshop on how to incorporate biomimicry into corporate sustainability practices. Energy sector representatives in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Institute explored topics of efficiency and energy usage in a meeting with SDZ Global staff. The New Children’s Museum hosted an event exploring the intersection of art and science where panelists explored how we view waste and future paths for improvement to compliment the Museum’s TRASH Exhibit.

Contact us at bioinspiration@sandiegozoo.org to learn more about our corporate innovation services and speaking engagements. 

 Follow Us! 

As a conservation organization, we are dedicated to the care and science of saving species. Bioinspiration represents a hope-filled message of a sustainable future where all species can thrive on this planet. Follow the San Diego Zoo Global twitter account to keep updated on bioinspiration programs, novel bioinspired research, green tips, and global conservation work of our organization. 

Bioinspiration in Action

Ever wonder why zebras have that characteristic black-and-white pattern?

A combined research team representing universities in both Hungary and Sweden was interested in this very question. In a March 2012 paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the researchers published the results of their findings. Turns out, zebras don’t like being bitten by horseflies (who does, really?) The pattern on zebras (the alternating black and white stripes) creates a multi-directional array of polarized light, decreasing the attractiveness to horseflies, which prefer linear polarized light. In fact, the width of stripes falls within a special range that makes zebras most disruptive to horseflies. Since zebras live in Africa, where these flies are everywhere, this adaptation is quite helpful. A horsefly bite can have severe effects on reproductive health. Read more.