Animal ambassador is bioinspiration example
The annual visit to the SS/NDE symposium by a special guest from the San Diego Zoo provides examples of nature's innovations in sensing, vision, and energy management.
SPIE and the SS/NDE symposium have partnered with the San Diego Zoo to promote the value of bioinspired engineering design. The collaboration began in 2011, when the SPIE conference "Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication" moved to the SS/NDE symposium. The San Diego Zoo joined the event with a special animal presentation as a way to illustrate the value of bioinspiration.
In 2015 attendees were treated to a visit by Martin, a Caiman lizard more than 1m long.
The San Diego Zoo Centre for Bioinspiration advances the creation and development of nature-inspired products and processes that benefit humanity, wildlife, and habitats. Established in 2006, San Diego Zoo Global's bioinspiration effort connects international academic, public, and industrial sectors to accelerate innovation inspired by nature. The center conducts corporate innovation services, partnered development projects, education and outreach.
