Biomimicry - Imitating Nature
Schedule: Wednesdays, October 7-November 4, 2009; 3:10-5:10 p.m.
Location: Everett, Downtown (see maps)
Reg. # 105246

Course Description
We will explore biomimicry - how human technology is improved by imitating natures design. Some applications and idea source are: design techniques for navigation and target recognition like bats and dolphins and migrating birds; generate low-power cold light like fireflies, develop adhesives like barnacles or geckos; develop water-propulsion like penguins; develop strong materials like spiders and abalones; detect odors like dogs and salmon; design air-conditioning systems like termites; detect forest fires like jewel beetles, make sunscreen like coral polyps; reduce drag in aircraft, boats and swimmers like sharks, humpback whales and birds in V-formation; Develop efficient solar cells like leaves; Develop drugs and therapies from nature like sunscreens from coral polyps; obtain diabetes drugs from lizard saliva, anti-cancer drugs like vincristine from the periwinkle against leukemia and taxol from the yew against ovarian cancer. We will show how they do it, and how scientists are studying them to apply to making our lives better.

Instructor

John N. Johnson
Johnson has a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1969. He was at Boeing for 31 years until he retired in 2000, where he developed computer algorithms for airborne radar, military aircraft, and spacecraft navigation, guidance and control during flight. He has taught advanced math evening classes for Boeing Training and at the University of Washington. He helped found the Technology in Education Initiative for teachers to visit and observe industry technology. He has given many school presentations on Math, Space and Astronomy from preschool to college, and elsewhere on Archaeology, and Animal Technology.