Biomimicry

The New England Aquarium, collaborating with other National Aquarium Baltimore and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, is leading a national effort to enable aquariums and other informal science centers to effectively communicate the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on marine animals, habitats and ecosystems.

This app is designed to be used by interpreters in aquariums, zoos, museums, or other educational institutions.

Full-color animations support five stories about biomimetic inventions (innovations inspired by natural systems) that are helping reduce energy-related carbon emissions:
• Wind turbine blades inspired by humpback whale flippers gather more energy than standard blades.
• Solar panels that are domed like a tree gather more energy than flat solar panels.
• A car shaped like a boxfish gets 70 miles to the gallon.
• Cement produced the way corals build their skeletons is carbon-negative instead of carbon-producing.
• Boat paint modeled after shark skin helps cargo ships use 5% less fuel.
Challenge your visitors, participants, or students to find inspiration in nature for solutions to the challenges we face.

Script and background information is available via http://tinyurl.com/BiomimicryApp.
App developed by the New England Aquarium, in partnership with FableVision. Production of this app has been supported through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.