Janine M. Benyus
Born	1958 (age 66–67) New Jersey
Alma mater	Rutgers University
Known for	Biomimicry

External videos
"The Promise of Biomimicry", Janine Benyus, January 23, 2020
Biomimicry, Tree Media, September 11, 2015
Janine Benyus, Innovator in the Field of Biomimicry - Heinz Award, November 19, 2021
Biomimicry as a Cooperative Inquiry - Bioneers, Janine Benyus with introduction by Paul Hawken, 2016

Janine M. Benyus (born 1958) is an American natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author. After writing books on wildlife and animal behavior, she coined the term Biomimicry to describe intentional problem-solving design inspired by nature. Her book Biomimicry (1997) attracted widespread attention from businesspeople in design, architecture, and engineering as well as from scientists. Benyus argues that by following biomimetic approaches, designers can develop products that will perform better, be less expansive, use less energy, and leave companies less open to legal risk.^[1]^[2]

Life

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Born in New Jersey, Benyus graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with degrees in natural resource management and English literature/writing.^[3] Benyus has taught interpretive writing and lectured at the University of Montana, and worked towards restoring and protecting wild lands.^[4] She serves on a number of land use committees in her rural county, and is president of Living Education, a nonprofit dedicated to place-based living and learning.^[5] Benyus lives in Stevensville, Montana.^[6]

Biomimicry

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Benyus has written a number of books on animals and their behavior, but is best known for Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature (1997). In this book she develops the basic thesis that human beings should consciously emulate nature's genius in their designs. She encourages people to ask "What would Nature do?" and to look at natural forms, processes, and ecosystems in nature^[7]^[8] to see what works and what lasts.^[1]

If you go into the world with an attitude of deep and reverent observation, you don't go with a pre-formed hypothesis. I am much more excited by staying open so that I can absorb something I could never have imagined.... That deep observation is a different kind of scientific inquiry. It may allow me to find something new while someone who is prejudging, someone with a hypothesis, will only see what affirms the hypothesis. If you go out waiting to be amazed, more may be revealed.^[9]

Benyus articulates an approach that strongly emphasizes sustainability within biomimicry practice. sometimes referred to as Conditions Conducive to Life (CCL).^[10] Benyus has described the development of sustainable solutions in terms of "Life’s Principles", emphasizing that organisms in nature have evolved methods of working that are not destructive of themselves and their environment. “Nature runs on sunlight, uses only the energy it needs, fits form to function, recycles everything, rewards cooperation, banks on diversity, demands local expertise, curbs excess from within and taps the power of limits”.^[11]

In 1998, Benyus and Dayna Baumeister co-founded the Biomimicry Guild^[1]^[12] as an innovation consultancy. Their goal was to help innovators learn from and emulate natural models in order to design sustainable products, processes, and policies that create conditions conducive to life.^[13]^[1]

In 2006, Benyus co-founded The Biomimicry Institute with Dayna Baumeister and Bryony Schwan.^[14] Benyus is President of the non-profit organization,^[15] whose mission is to naturalize biomimicry in the culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design.^[2] In 2008 the Biomimicry Institute launched AskNature.org, "an encyclopedia of nature's solutions to common design problems".^[16] The Biomimicry Institute has become a key communicator in the field of biomimetics, connecting 12,576 member practitioners and organizations in 36 regional networks and 21 countries through its Biomimicry Global Network as of 2020.^[2]

In 2010, Benyus, Dayna Baumeister, Bryony Schwan, and Chris Allen formed Biomimicry 3.8, connecting their for-profit and nonprofit work by creating a benefit corporation. Biomimicry 3.8, which achieved B-corp certification,^[17]^[18]^[19] offers consultancy, professional training, development for educators,^[17] and "inspirational speaking".^[20]^[21]^[22] Among its more than 250 clients are Nike, Kohler. Seventh Generation and C40 Cities.^[23]^[12] By 2013, over 100 universities had joined the Biomimicry Educator’s Network, offering training in biomimetics.^[17] In 2014, the profit and non-profit aspects again became separate entities, with Biomimicry 3.8 engaging in for-profit consultancy and the Biomimicry Institute as a non-profit organization.^[24]

Benyus has served on various boards, including the Board of Directors for the U.S. Green Building Council and the advisory boards of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and Project Drawdown. Benyus is an affiliate faculty member in The Biomimicry Center at Arizona State University.^[25]

Beynus' work has been used as the basis for films^[26] including the two-part film Biomimicry: Learning from Nature (2002), directed by Paul Lang and David Springbett for CBC's The Nature of Things and presented by David Suzuki.^[27] She was one of the experts in the film Dirt! The Movie (2009) which was voiced by Jamie Lee Curtis.^[28]

Authored works

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Benyus, Janine M. (1998). The secret language and remarkable behavior of animals. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 1-57912-036-9. Illustrated by Juan Carlos Barberis.
Benyus, Janine M. (1997). Biomimicry : innovation inspired by nature (1st ed.). New York: Morrow. ISBN 0-06-053322-6.
Benyus, Janine M. (1992). Beastly behaviors : a zoo lovers companion. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-62482-6. Illustrated by Juan Carlos Barberis.
Benyus, Janine M.; Buech, Richard R.; Nelson, Mark D. (1992). Wildlife in the Upper Great Lakes Region: a community profile. Research Paper NC-301. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. doi:10.2737/NC-RP-301. hdl:2027/umn.31951d029779112.
Benyus, Janine M. (1989). Northwoods wildlife : a watcher's guide to habitats. Minocqua, WI: NorthWord Press. ISBN 1-55971-003-9.
Benyus, Janine M. (1989). The field guide to wildlife habitats of the eastern United States. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-65908-1.
Benyus, Janine M. (1989). The field guide to wildlife habitats of the western United States. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 067165909X.
Benyus, Janine M. (1983). Christmas tree pest manual. St. Paul, Minn.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station.

Awards and honors

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2020, Trailblazer Award at Verdical Group's Net Zero Conference^[29]
2019, Fellow, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)^[30]
2015, Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award^[31]
2013, Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development^[32]
2012, Design Mind Award. Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum^[33]
2011, Heinz Award. with special focus on the environment ^[34]^[35]
2009, Champion of the Earth for Science and Technology, United Nations Environment Programme.^[17]
2007, Hero of the Environment, Time International^[36]^[3]
2006, Women of Discovery Award, WINGS WorldQuest^[26]
2004, Rachel Carson Lecture on Environmental Ethics^[9]^[7]
2003, Lud Browman Award for Science Writing, Friends of the Mansfield Library, University of Montana^[37]

See also

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Biomimicry

References

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^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Bernstein, Amy (August 28, 2006). "Janine Benyus: The Thought Leader Interview". strategy+business. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c MacKinnon, Rebecca Barbara; Oomen, Jeroen; Pedersen Zari, Maibritt (September 2020). "Promises and Presuppositions of Biomimicry". Biomimetics. 5 (3): 33. doi:10.3390/biomimetics5030033. ISSN 2313-7673. PMC 7557929. PMID 32660092.
^ ^a ^b Busari, Stephanie (July 7, 2008). "The Nature of Things: Janine Benyus Biography - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
^ Hill, Heidi (February 7, 2005). "Janine Benyus to Speak on Sustainable Solutions". The University of Vermont. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "Janine Benyus". Dirt! The Movie. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Chevalier, Jessica (2018). "Focus on Leadership: A talk with Janine Benyus, founder of the biomimicry movement". Floor Daily. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Casey, Helen Marie. "What Is Biomimicry? | The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning & Dialogue | Cambridge, MA". www.ikedacenter.org. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Westervelt, Janine Benyus. "Janine Benyus". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Janine Benyus | The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning & Dialogue | Cambridge, MA". www.ikedacenter.org. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Linder, Benjamin; Huang, Jean (September 2022). "Beyond Structure-Function: Getting at Sustainability within Biomimicry Pedagogy". Biomimetics. 7 (3): 90. doi:10.3390/biomimetics7030090. ISSN 2313-7673. PMC 9326754. PMID 35892360.
^ Althen, Aline (April 22, 2015). "The nature of LEED: How natural laws inspire and inform green building | U.S. Green Building Council". U.S. Green Building Council. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Hayes, Megan (August 15, 2018). "Janine Benyus on 3.8 billion-year-old solutions to today's design challenges". Appalachian Today. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Donoff, Elizabeth (July 30, 2009). "One-on-One with Janine Benyus Championing nature as the source for sustainable design solutions". Architect. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "The Biomimicry Institute empowers people to create nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet". Biomimicry Institute. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Bonime, Western (July 12, 2020). "Biomimicry: Using Nature's Perfect Innovation Systems To Design The Future". Forbes. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
^ Wendt, Allyson (December 4, 2008). "AskNature.org Connects Designers to Biomimicry Research". BuildingGreen. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Benyus to receive honorary degree". ASU News. April 5, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "Biomimicry 3.8 - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global". www.bcorporation.net. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Merritt, Elizabeth (June 20, 2017). "To B Corps or not to B Corps—A Case Study". American Alliance of Museums. Center for the Future Of Museums Blog. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "About - Bryony Schwan Consulting - Missoula, Montana". Bryony Schwan Consulting. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Scanlon, Jessie (April 7, 2016). "Janine Benyus Looks to Nature for Design Inspiration". Bloomberg. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
^ Zari, Maibritt Pedersen; Connolly, Peter; Southcombe, Mark (July 7, 2020). Ecologies Design: Transforming Architecture, Landscape, and Urbanism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-06651-7.
^ "Work Examples". Biomimicry 3.8. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "Biomimicry Institute". G20 Insights (in German). Retrieved October 7, 2022.
^ "Janine Benyus: Co-founder Biomimicry Institute". The National Association for Environmental Management. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Janine Benyus". WINGS WorldQuest. August 13, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ "Biomimicry: Learning from Nature - Part 1". Bullfrog Films. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
^ "The Experts". Dirt! The Movie. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ hello@verdicalgroup.com (September 29, 2023). "Honoring Past Keynote Speakers and Trailblazer Award Winners". Net Zero Conference. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
^ "ASID Announces 2019 College of Fellows Inductees". American Society of Interior Designers. May 17, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ "Pioneers in technology, biodiversity to receive Stibitz, Wilson awards Oct. 2". Montana State University. September 11, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ "Janine Benyus, winner of the Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development 2013 | Chalmers". www.chalmers.se. January 26, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "2012 National Design Award Winners | Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum". Cooper Hewitt. August 23, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ Hoyt, Alex (September 16, 2011). "Naturalist Janine Benyus Honored with Heinz Award". Architect magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ "Janine Benyus, Special focus on the environment". Heinz Awards. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ Lovins, Amory B. (October 17, 2007). "Heroes of the Environment - TIME". Time.
^ "Friends of the Library banquet honors two Montana writers". Mass Hall to Main Street. The University of Montana. March 24, 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

External links

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Janine Benyus

Janine Benyus