Undergraduate certificate in biomimicry
FAQ
We have organized the FAQ into two sections: General and Class Specific. The first section covers questions about the certificate overall, and the second sections covers questions associated with specific classes.
General FAQ
What is biomimicry? Simply stated, it is learning from the natural world to solve human challenges. Biomimicry is a source of innovation that comes about trough emulation of biological forms, processes, patterns and systems.
I am an incoming freshman. Can I take a biomimicry class my freshman year? Yes, Biomimicry Foundations is an introduction to Biomimicry and a beginning class that brings ideas from many disciplines together to consider what nature offers as solutions to problems big and small.
What kind of student would be interested in this certificate? What is exciting about this certificate is that the students in and the faculty teaching the classes come from many departments, backgrounds and interests. What they have in common is an interest in the natural world, curiosity in how things work, and a desire to change how and what we make. We encourage students majoring in art, science, engineering, business, and allied disciplines to take advantage of this new certificate.
If I don’t have a background in design, engineering, or biology will I be able to understand the content in these courses? The classes were all created with the premise that students from many majors would be interested in enrolling. You will be in a class that have people who have different backgrounds, so what you bring to the class will be just as relevant to biomimicry as someone from another area.
Is there a correct order to take classes? Biomimicry Foundations is the introductory course for the certificate. The electives could be taken after or concurrently with Biomimicry Foundations. We recommend taking Technology-Based Startups after you have had at least one of the other courses in the certificate. Biomimicry Design Challenge is a capstone class which means that it is ideally the last class you take to earn the certificate. If you have a question about a specific course and when would be best to take it, please contact the instructor for that course to ask for advice.
What real world experience will I get from this certificate? Classes will involve immersion into many fields including biology, business, engineering, and design. Some of the classes will include study of real problems from industry tackled by biomimicry, either as case studies or as design challenges. All the classes will give you real world experience in interdisciplinary communication and problem solving: skills that are highly prized by employers from many industries. In fact, our decision to launch this undergraduate certificate in biomimicry was motivated in part by discussions BRIC faculty and graduate students have with our industrial biomimicry fellowship sponsors such as Goodyear, Bendix, Nottingham Spirk and others (see the full list of graduate fellows and their corporate sponsors here).
How do I sign up for the biomimicry certificate? Sign up for the required classes or contact your academic advisor for help if you can’t find the course(s) you are looking for.
Will classes in the certificate count towards my major? Quite likely, yes. The best thing to do is check with your academic advisor since there are so many majors, each with their own nuances. But we designed the certificate such that one or more classes would apply towards multiple majors.
What is unique about this certificate? The discovery between disciplines, material and design exploration. Creating nature-inspired solutions for research and entrepreneurship. Learning from the natural world, we encourage all disciplines to take advantage of this new certificate. Engaging real world challenges, the courses develop flexible thinking, immersive learning, abstract explorations, and problem solving.
What will I be doing when I take these classes? The Undergraduate Certificate in Biomimicry is designed to give students training and experience in the theory, methods, and practice of seeking inspiration from living systems to solve technical challenges. Students seeking a certificate will work with peers and faculty from departments including biology, art, engineering, and business to develop a skillset enabling problem solving in a variety of contexts where innovation and sustainability are desired outcomes.
I love biomimicry, but I am graduating. How can I learn more? Consider the University of Akron’s integrated bioscience degree. A student with an undergraduate degree might want to consider a PhD with a biomimicry focus. For more information contact Dr. Peter Niewiarowski at phn@uakron.edu.
When can i start to study biomimicry? You can start the Biomimicry Certificate program in fall 2019. Thereafter you can begin your studies in biomimicry at any time that allows you to complete the requirements, giving the schedule of when the courses are taught. Luckily, the order in which you take courses is not strictly prescribed, allowing some flexibility for different student schedules.
Who is the target group for the program? The program is primarily for people interested in natural sciences, technology and design. The interdisciplinary nature of the classes means that students will be exposed to content from sciences, engineering and design throughout their work. The capstone project (Biomimicry Design Challenge) will be a practical design exercise in a real-world scenario.
How many of the certificate classes will also satisfy requirements for a BS in Biology? I don’t want to pay for more credits than I need to graduate! To graduate with a BS in biology you need a total of 120 credits. 107 credits are earned by taking all the required classes specified by the College of Arts and Sciences (14 credits for languages), General Education (34 credits), and the Biology Department (59 credits). That means that 13 credits are necessary and available for taking classes of any kind to reach the 120 credits required to graduate with a BS in Biology. Comparative Biomechanics, and Biomimicry Design Challenge both qualify as biology upper division electives (19 credits required for the Biology BS) which means that only 9 more flexible credits are needed to earn your certificate and the 120 minimum credits needed to graduate with a BS in Biology and the Biomimicry Certificate. If you are unsure of how to plan this curriculum, ask your academic adviser for assistance.
What are the professional fields for students with a certificate in biomimicry? Biomimicry is an emerging field that is relevant to many fields and industries you may be considering for a job or career, especially those where methods of innovation and design for sustainability may be important. People with biomimicry training work in a wide range of fields, for example: aviation, automotive, nautical, engineering, architecture and design, biomedical, academic research, nanotechnology, surface engineering, smart materials and sensors, biological materials, bioinformatics, robotics, sustainable design, renewable energy. This huge range is mirrored by diverse list of corporate sponsors of our current Biomimicry PhD Fellows.
Will there be animal experiments in the courses included in the certificate? Possibly. To learn from biology sometimes requires the study and comprehension of facts directly from animal experiments, which will be part of some courses.
Where can I get more information about the courses? Please see the individual course syllabi which are listed here.
Class Specific FAQ
Comparative Biomechanics
I’m not good at math. Will I be lost in Comparative Biomechanics? While comparative biomechanics does involve math, none of it requires math beyond algebra, and the course structure walks students through the mathematical concepts slowly and relies primarily on intuitive physical examples.
I want to sign up for Biodesign for fall of 2019 but i don't see it in the catalog? We are waiting for Biodesign to be added to the official course catalog. In the meantime, please sign up for the course listed as ST:Studio Art (7100:489-016 [74836]) You may need permission from the instructor. If so, please contact Dr. Petra Gruber for more information. Sorry for the inconvenience, we are still working out some kinks!
Biodesign and Biomimicry Design Challenge
I like art, but I can’t draw. Do I need an art background? No. Design classes will teach basic design principles and develop individual and team building skills. Students explore many ways of researching and presenting their ideas.