Biomimicry is said to be one-of-its-kind elective course under the interdisciplinary stream. Biomimicry as the name suggests is about imitating or looking at Nature as a source of inspiration to solve complex problems.

One does not need to be either a biologist or an engineer to learn biomimicry, all one requires is curiosity.

The next step would be to observe and the leaf and learn that it has microscopic bumps on its surface that repel water due to which water droplets roll off the leaf’s surface along with any dirt particles.

Learning this part from Biomimicry and take that and apply it and build a similar structure in clothing.

If one does this, very soon one can have school uniforms that would not get dirty. This is just one example of application of Biomimicry.

One organism can give multiple examples, and there are millions of such organisms that have evolved their strategies which can give us lot of inspiration to workout solutions for issues bothering us.

Sources from IIT Madras further say, the subject deals with not learning about nature but learning from it.

The ethos of it or the guiding principle of biomimicry is that life creates conditions conducive to life.

$ The Shikansen bullet train in Tokyo which was inspired by Kingfisher.

$ The Eastgate Centre in Harare of Zimbabwe which is inspired by the termite mound.

$ The town of Kalundborg in Denmark practising industrial symbiosis.

$ Wind turbine blade design inspired by the flippers of humpback whales.

$ Self-filling water flasks inspired by Namib Desert beetle.

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Sources further say, IIT Madras is among the first institutions in India to offer a full-fledged course on Biomimicry.

The subject will be taught by Professor M.S. Sivakumar (Dean of Students, IIT Madras), Mr. Shiva Subramaniam (Chief Innovation Officer, Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Madras).

Professor Satyanarayanan Seshadri (Department of Applied Mechanics) and Professor Srinivasa Chakravarthy (Department of Biotechnology) will also be teaching the subject.

IIT Madras has also created a community of Biomimicry enthusiasts who are exploring opportunities in research, entrepreneurship, new products, processes, and systems.

The Institute plans to hold a Biomimicry challenge to provoke bold, sustainable ideas from young minds.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals can provide students with challenges for which they can design solutions using biomimicry.

Biomimicry has immense potential not only in engineering, technology and design, but also in other areas like management, human resources, administration, social sciences and the arts.

School children can benefit from learning it. Biomimicry can lead to not just innovating from nature but also creating a sustainable way of life.

He can be emailed for seeking more information regarding Biomimicry at ‘shiva@thinkpaperclip.com’

About IIT Madras

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) was established in 1959 by the Government of India as an ‘Institute of National Importance.

The activities of the Institute in various fields of Science and Technology are carried out in 16 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary research academic centres.

The Institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech., M.S., and Ph.D., degrees in a variety of specialisations.

IITM is a residential institute with more than 580 faculty and 9,500 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here.

IITM fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell.

IITM has been ranked No.1 in the ‘Overall’Categoryfor the second consecutive year in India Ranking 2020 released by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India.

The Institute has also been ranked No.1 in the Engineering Institutions category in the same Rankings for five consecutive years – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

It was also adjudged as the ‘Top innovative Institution’ in the country in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2019 launched by Innovation Cell of MHRD.

This collaboration agreement seeks to capitalize on the strengths of both institutions, broadening the learning experience for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (BS) programs at IIT Madras and undergraduate programs at IIT Palakkad.

To date, over 30,000 students are actively participating in this program, fostering a vibrant and interactive learning community, say sources from IIT Palakkad.

Director of IIT Madras

Welcoming this collaboration, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said IIT Madras is committed to reach quality education to every deserving student in our country. This initiative with IIT Palakkad is a very significant step towards reaching the goals.

We are enthusiastic about mentoring these bright minds. Our courses and internships have a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and innovation, said director of IIT Palakkad.

This collaboration with IIT Madras will build a robust foundation that equips students with the skills, insights, and networks they need to excel, he said.

Key features

The key features of this collaboration include:

Ø Credit Transfer from IITPkd Courses: IIT Madras BS (Data Science and Applications) students who meet the eligibility criteria can fulfil their credit requirements by taking courses at IIT Palakkad, promoting an exchange of academic resources and expertise.

Ø Access to IIT Madras Courses for IIT Palakkad Students: The MoU allows undergraduate students at IIT Palakkad to enrol in courses on Data Science and Programming from the IIT Madras BS program, ensuring equitable access to these cutting-edge skills.

Ø Support for Additional Initiatives: The collaboration will also facilitate student exchange programs, internship opportunities, and other joint initiatives.

Commitment

This collaboration between IIT Madras and IITPkd highlights the commitment of both institutions to enrich student experiences through cross-disciplinary exposure, practical learning, and research opportunities.

It aims to create a robust academic ecosystem that utilizes the expertise and infrastructure of both IITs.

Collaboration

IIT Madras has been collaborating with other leading institutions in the country to provide in-person learning opportunities for final-year students in the BS program.

IIT Gandhinagar, IIIT Hyderabad, and Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) have already made their campus courses available to eligible students from the IIT Madras BS (Data Science) degree program.

About IIT Palakkad

Established in 2015, the Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad is dedicated to creating an environment that enables students and faculty to engage in the pursuit of knowledge, to dream, think, and innovate thereby becoming change agents for a better world.

Having begun with just 120 students in July 2015, IIT Palakkad has since grown into an establishment that is about a thousand students strong and with the best manpower in key positions.

IITPkd aims to become a multi-disciplinary institution with 5000 students by its 10th year. The Institute recognizes collective growth, in collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, as the need of the time and emphasizes blue-sky research and directed research as two essential pillars of technology development.

The Institute embraces a vision to be a leader in cross-disciplinary inquiries, and to contribute to the potential that India’s demographic dividend represents for the country and the world, which is embodied in the motto of the institute “Nurturing minds for a better world”.

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