Lecturer's Biomimicry enterprise to present at science festival

The Biomimicry UK team is made up a range of academics and professionals based across the country. Their expertise lies in creative problem-solving, innovation, design, learning, biology, social media, building performance and behavioural analysis. On a larger scale, Richard is currently working with similar organisations from across Europe to develop a European Biomimicry Alliance that will create collaborate teams to work towards the current European agenda of promoting nature-based solutions.

Richard explained: “Biomimicry is a way to look to the natural world to help solve human challenges. It is not the solutions to all our problems, but a way to look to find more innovative and resilient solutions through mimicking successful biological strategies, be that form, function, process, material of an entire system. Much of the world’s flora and fauna has gone through billions of years of evolution and biomimicry is about replicating that the best we can.

“We are basing Biomimicry UK on a fertile ecosystem. By building up the collaboration of the current team through cross-pollination of resources and knowledge we aim to achieve resilient business.  This fits into our business model of organic growth, much as how a forest would develop over time.”

Biomimicry UK, are currently working with a community in Scotland to develop a biomimetic building that works with and responds to the environment. This is in collaboration with international designers in the biomimicry field, social enterprises, local and national government.

Richard’s personal research focuses on biomimicry, mimicking, forms, functions, processes, materials and systems in nature. He is based in the Landscape Architecture and Urban Design department in the Leeds School of Art, Architecture and Design and within the Leeds Sustainability Institute.