Bioinspiration-Looking to nature to Meet Our Energy Needs Troy Dassler Aldo Leopold Elementary 2602 Post Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53713 608-204-2471; tdassler@madison.k12.wi.us; troydassler@yahoo.com The goal of Micro explorers is to offer elementary-aged children the opportunity to explore how nature designs structures to inspire them to solve two of society’s greatest challenges: energy production and efficiency. Explorers will examine the surface structures through images taken from digital optical microscopes and a Scanning Electron Microscope from the University of Wisconsin. Explorers will examine how nature creates color, cleans the surface of leaves and animals alike, and moves the tiny fly to the great whale. Explorers will use what they have learned from nature to create eco-friendly efficient alternative energy power generators. A windmill’s design may be inspired by the fluke of a whale. Surfaces of solar panels can be coated with a super hydrophobic coating like that found on the surface of a lotus leaf. The ideas are only limited by the diversity of nature and the imagination and creativity of the explorers. STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA, JUNIOR HIGH ART STUDENTS USE SEM TO CREATE IMAGES AS FOUNDATION FOR ART PROJECTS |