Biomimicry talk focuses on innovation inspired by nature Dayna Baumeister, education director of the Biomimicry Institute of Missoula, Mont., will be the featured speaker at series of Red River Valley Research Corridor lectures co-hosted by U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, Northern Great Plains, Inc., North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Dr. Baumeister has introduced the idea of nature as a model and served as a mentor to thousands of designers, business managers, engineers, environmentalists, as well as grade school, high school and university students or the general public just curious about the natural world. Biomimicry is a new science that studies nature's models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems. Velcro, perhaps the most well-known biomimetic invention, is modeled after barbs on weed seeds. Other applications include coatings, adhesives, lubricants, fabrication techniques, composite materials, intelligent fabrics, antibiotics and self-healing materials. Biomimicry is a hot topic in business as companies look for biologically inspired designs for their products and ways to reach new, potentially lucrative “green” markets. Monday, Oct. 16 • 7 to 8:30 p.m., Fargo Ramada Plaza Hotel, Crystal 1 Room Tuesday, Oct. 17 • 9 to 10:30 a.m., NDSU Century Theatre, Memorial Union • 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., UND in the River Valley Room, Memorial Union • 7 to 8:30 p.m., UMC in the Bede Ballroom Students will learn about careers that utilize biomimicry design and production methods. Faculty with an interest in biomimicry research will have an opportunity to get engaged with a network of researchers in universities and industry. For more information call the Research Corridor Coordinating Center at 701-775-3354. -- Gary Johnson, Assistant Vice President for Research, Division of Research, garyejohnson@mail.und.nodak.edu, 701-777-2492