Biomimicry School Program
More about our in class visit!
MSI's introductory Biomimicry Inland Voyage program, brings live marine animals to your school. Through combining hands-on investigation, observation, and cooperative learning activities, elementary and secondary students learn about animal adaptations and how they can be used to solve human problems.
Students rotate through two working stations, each facilitated by an instructor. We require the participation of 3-4 classes per day at your site.
“How would nature solve this?” That’s what your students will learn to ask in our newest program, Biomimicry. Biomimicry is the practice of mimicking nature's designs and strategies to meet human needs. Here are some examples of how it has already impacted our lives:
A Biomimicry Service includes:
*Inland Voyage: 50-minute introductory Biomimicry outreach visit in your classroom (at no extra charge)
*3-4 hour hands-on discovery of biomimicry in the marine environment in a Discovery Voyage or a Shoreside Program.
*Educators’ Guide: free; includes activities, access to online forum and support materials for teachers and students.
*Grade Level: 4-8
*Cost: Same as our standard Discovery Voyage or Shoreside Program (check web for pricing details)
Prices have already been supplemented by our generous donors. Additional sponsorship is available for schools that demonstrate a need.
Biomimicry
(Bio-inspired Design)
Through observation, students will look at the different adaptations and functions of San Francisco Bay marine life. These observations will help students to come up possible human uses and ideas to create a Marine Lab for the design challenge. http://tinyurl.com/BiomimicryChallenge
This new program will capture the natural curiosity of students and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. Your students will be able to examine sustainability issues using nature’s designs.
* Microbe-resistant properties of shark skin have been mimicked to reduce risk of infection in hospitals.
* Alarms and sensory lighting designs came from mimicking the bioluminescent properties of plankton.
* The “tubercle effect,” a design that increases wind turbine energy production by 20%, was inspired by bumpy Humpback whale fins.
* More lessons from nature:
For more information please contact Arleen Garcia, Scheduling Coordinator, 650-364-2760 arleen@sfbaymsi.org