The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Biomimicry’

There is a new field called biomimicry, just over two decades old, where nature is used to solve problems in the world. This may sound odd to you, but George de Mestral invented Velcro after burrs stuck to his jacket, and when examined them he recognized the potential for a fastener. 

Today, let’s take a look at the palm tree. I will include some of the characteristics of a palm tree and use them (add some of your own) to associate with a pressing problem that you are having, to see if you can open a new avenue of thought to aid with creative problem solving.

When you think of a palm tree what immediately comes to mind?

• Tall and majestic
• Towering beauty
• Slender
• Graceful
• Evergreen
• Provides shade
• Withstands drought
• Stands strong even in the most inclement weather

Facts About, and Characteristics of, Palm Trees

• Evergreen, mostly tropical plant in the family Palmae (also known as Arecaceae).
• 202 currently known genera with over 2,600 species of palms.
• First appeared in the fossil record around 80 million years ago.
• Growing from three to 100 feet.
• Strong Foundation: Before it begins to sprout upwards, it attains its maximum girth beneath the ground first. That is, it grows deep first.
• Grow best in moist soil to dry, desert conditions – rainforests to deserts.
• Crowned by a mass of branches from 40 to 80 in number, and on these the fruit grows.
• Fan shaped (palmate) or feather shaped (pinnate) compound leaves arranged at the top of an un-branched stem. The leaves of palms are found in an equal distance apart on the spine of the branch.
• Flexible: The tree bends and sways back and forth but does not break.
• The coconut tree is a type of palm tree.

If you assigned the characteristics of a palm tree to your problem, how would you solve it? For instance, consolidation is taking place in many industries, so perhaps you are no longer earning enough income. Like a palm tree, you have strong roots since you have built a strong Foundation of knowledge. Now could be the perfect time to sprout upwards, and like the palm leaves, which spread outwards, you could move into adjacent industries, or provide complementary products and services.

Further Action

Spend some time exploring http://www.AskNature.org.  Nature may be the solution to your most pressing problems. I have included photos of palm trees that I took while on vacation in Barbados a few years ago. Take a look at the pictures, you may notice other characteristics that stimulate problem solving.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

The ability to write and problem solve effectively are  excellent skills to have. Below are three websites that allow you to cultivate those skills.

Daily Writing Tips

This website is a free subscription-based one. I like this website because it presents words that people often use incorrectly and provides examples for correct usage. Many people will find this website very useful and it will prevent you from making embarrassing mistakes.

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/

The English Club

Though the English Club website is for people who want to learn or teach English, it has a lot of good information. If you spend some time browsing the website you’ll discover a very good grammar guide among other things.

http://www.englishclub.com/

Ask Nature

Ask Nature is a project of the Biomimicy Institute. If you have challenges to resolve and problems to solve and are looking for some creative solutions, the Ask Nature  portal is the perfect place to start. Biomimicry is a new field, only about 20 years old, is innovation inspired by nature. To start the problem solving process, at the Ask Nature website, type in your question in the search box. You will receive responses that will take you down a path that you would likely have not taken, isn’t that what innovation is about?

http://asknature.org

Please refer to How to Problem Solve, Reverse Problem Solving and  How to Read to Problem Solve. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

Every so often I present websites that I think you should know about. A few days ago I presented a hybrid creativity model based on Graham Wallas‘ and James Webb Young’s creativity model. In the model you have general information, which are things you discover and file away for future use. The websites today are geared toward rounding out your general knowledge. The more varied your knowledge, the more creative you are. The creative you are, the more creative ideas you unearth for problem solving.

One website I added to the mix because many people travel so I thought it would be handy for discounted airfares.

Space Adventures

Provides private spaceflight opportunities.  It’s the first company to have taken clients into space.      

Virgin Galactic

Are you interested in space travel? Virgin Galactic is a space tourism operator which will be providing sub-orbital flights. It is an offshoot of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson‘s enterprise.

Ask Nature

It’s the design portal for the Biomimicry Institute. Biomimicry is a fairly new field where nature is used to inspire problem solving. The Ask Nature website is filled with lots of information that will round out your general knowledge.

Travel Alerts

You will find discounted vacation and last minute travel. Get the alerts sent to your email box each week http://www.travelalerts.com.

If money were no object, would you invest in space travel? Please keep the conversation flowing, click on the comment link below and leave a note for me. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

Ted talk: Biomimicry in action: Janine Benyus

Biomimicry in action: Janine Benyus

Space Tourism Markets What We Know And What We Don’t Know

Space Tourism Markets What We Know And What We Don’t Know

Photo Credit: Zemanta
Video Credit: YouTube via Apture