Can sustainability be inspired by design from nature?

Kirke, MSJ

Abstract

Economically and politically mankind's natural environment has become one of
the most important issues within modern society. With the realisation that
thousands of years of polluting the earth and stripping its resources without
restraint is having a massive effect on ecosystems and surrounding
environments. For example, there is real concern that one of the wide ranging
effects of this greed and exploitation is the issue of global warming. "Arctic ice is
rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free
summer by 2040 or earlier. Polar bears and indigenous cultures are already
suffering from the sea-ice loss/' (nationalgeographic.2010)
A more sustainable way to live alongside natural habitats and the integration of
nature to mankind's modern thinking and needs is key to a more sustainable
and manageable approach to the relationship with not only local environment
but also the environment on a global scale. "Just as our banking sector is
struggling with its debts - and paradoxically also facing calls for a return to socalled
'old-fashioned,' traditional banking - so Nature's life-support systems are
failing to cope with the debts we have built up there too. So, if we don't face up
to this, then Nature, the biggest bank of all, could go bust"- HRH The Prince of
Wales, The Richard Dimbleby Lecture 'Facing the Future' 8 July 2009. (Verkaik,
R. 2009)

Citation

Kirke, M. Can sustainability be inspired by design from nature?. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2011