Search results for: australia

Nature is filled with ingenious designs – from the way a leaf grows to spots on a leopard, and spirals of shells to bubbles used by snails. Studying patterns can be a wonderful activity, yet, making sense of wonders is not always easy. The purpose of patterns can range from camouflage, warning signals to regulatingContinue reading “Reasons why it’s important to be Curious about Patterns in Nature”

From stories about birds to creatures who inspire our homes, here’s our list of favourite children’s reading this summer. The Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson & Catherine Rayner Found an empty nest on your nature walk? Or spotted some fledgings? Birds are great inspirations for young biomimicrists. Birds build all sorts of interesting nests. The bowerbirdsContinue reading “Brilliant Nature Books for Curious Kids”

Beachcombing along the shoreline is exciting. You never know what you might find. If you are lucky enough you might find a real treasure – a mermaid’s purse hiding among the seaweed. It is a bit mind-boggling to imagine that a shark or skate might have emerged from the egg case. The little pouches areContinue reading “Mermaid Purses”

Exciting news about this remarkable monotreme mammal. Echidnas use their own mucus to stay cool. Echidnas cannot sweat, pant, or lick to keep their bodies cool. But they have an impressive tolerance to heat. Now, scientists have discovered how they do it. Echidnas stay cool by blowing mucus bubbles through their snout. The bubbles burstContinue reading “Echidna’s clever way to stay cool – Snot Bubbles”

Echidnas are super cool! This spiky mammal lays eggs. There are five monotremes – four of them are echidnas and the other mammal is the fascinating platypus. Echidnas have hard flat eyes and the claws on the hind limbs are curved backwards to help them dig burrows. Yet, their snout, sometimes called a beak, isContinue reading “Echidna Super Cool Snout”

Some projects take for ever but now the Insect Biomimicry Board Game is finished! It is similar to the Mammal and Australian Board Game and the idea is to encourage children to play a non-competive game where the focus is on exploring insects and wild exciting ideas. Photo By Quit007 – Own work, CC BY-SAContinue reading “Biomimicry Invention Game – Intriguing Insects”

“We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again. We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time. We have come here to let you know that change is coming whether you like it or not.Continue reading “Books that Inspire Creative Thinking and Environmental Responsibility”

Made another board game! Similar to the one with mammals but this time the theme is Australia. Games are an educational tool that is underestimated. They are engaging and fun. Nevertheless, I like the idea of games that at their core is non-competitive. And this Biomimicry Invention Board Game is more about ideas and exploringContinue reading “Board Game”

Wombats are one of Australia’s most loved marsupials, but they are often misunderstood. In children’s books they are described as slow and clumsy, yet, they can actually run faster than a human or dog over a short distance. Muddle-headed wombats! No, they are quick to learn and they have adapted to their life underground. However,Continue reading “Biomimicry, Bushfires and Wombats”

A dangerous summer is unfolding in Australia and so far millions, even billions animals have lost their lives in raging bushfires. Bushfires are common in Australia so animals and plants have developed various ways to survive and reproduce. This year, the bushfires are not normal, hundreds of fires are burning and the links to climateContinue reading “Bushfires and Biomimicry”