Students in the CAD Program are currently competing in the first annual Biomimicry Design Challenge. The Challenge is a global design competition (nearly 40 international teams!) in which students will apply the principles of biomimicry to improve energy efficiency and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In biomimicry, designers are inspired by organisms, systems, or processes of the natural world. For more information, Janine Benyus of the Biomimicry Institute presents Biomimicry In Action.
Over the course of the semester, students enrolled in Technical Drawing and AutoCAD II will generate ideas, draw hand sketches, ,and produce 3D models to prepare for their presentation to the judges at the Biomimicry Institute. This competition is exciting for the College of Technology because the home of the Biomimicry Institute is in Missoula so we consider ourselves the hometown favorite. Recently, Technical Drawing students completed the first round of ideation which resulted in a variety of excellent ideas and designs. The students will pick one design and then hone the project. Cheer us on as we head for the deadline of December 21st!
Janine Benyus describes Biomimicry in the following TED talk:
