The Biomimicry Project
The Biomimicry Project – Student Design Challenge
The Biomimicry Project – Student Design Challenge is a suite of activities and resources engaging high-ability students in Years 3-10 in the sustainable design practice of Biomimicry, where innovation is inspired by the extraordinary forms, functions and strategies found in nature.
If you are a teacher or parent of a high-ability Victorian Government School student, apply today!
Teachers Apply Here
Parents/Carers Apply Here
Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) is proud to be continuing our partnership with the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series in 2026. Since 2020, RBGV’s Designed by Nature Biomimicry Program has been inspiring students to tap into nature’s incredible design ideas and apply them to their own bio-inspired innovations.
This year will see the expansion of the Designed by Nature program into The Biomimicry Project – Student Design Challenge, providing opportunities for students to dive deeper into the fascinating topic of Biomimicry both in and out of the classroom.
Students who participate in The Biomimicry Project – Student Design Challenge will be encouraged and supported to design a biomimetic innovation which helps to solve a local or global issue.
The Biomimicry Project’s Suite of Learning Tools
Introductory Workshop
The Introductory Workshop is a nature-based STEM excursion in which botanic gardens become living laboratories where students explore the biological strategies nature has honed over 3.8 billion years. Students are encouraged to slow down, quieten their human cleverness and let nature be their teacher.
Pre-recorded tutorials
These tutorials will dive deeper into the skills required to practise Biomimicry and develop biomimetic designs that help people and the planet. Topics will include unpacking the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to identify local and global issues, detailed examples of innovations and their biological inspirations and a deep dive into finding function in nature.
Online masterclasses
These live online events will bring students face-to-face with experts in various fields related to Biomimicry. Sessions will be recorded and available on demand.
The Biomimicry Project Resource Pack
Hosted on Padlet, this resource pack is a collection of videos, lesson-plans and activities to support students’ Biomimicry learning journey both in and out of the classroom.
Collaborative Digital Design Hub
Hosted and moderated on Padlet, students, teachers or parents can upload student work for RBGV's Learning Innovation Programs team to provide feedback and next steps. Uploads could include completed design templates, photographs or videos of prototypes and presentations detailing student design processes.
The Biomimicry Project – Introductory Workshop Dates
Term 1
- Tuesday 24th February - Melbourne Gardens
- Thursday 26th March - Cranbourne Gardens
Term 2
- Tuesday 21st April - Cranbourne Gardens
- Tuesday 28th April - Melbourne Gardens
- Thursday 7th May - Melbourne Gardens
- Wednesday 17th June - REGIONAL Geelong Botanic Gardens
- Thursday 25th June - Melbourne Gardens
Term 3
- Tuesday 21st July - Melbourne Gardens
- Thursday 13th August - Cranbourne Gardens
- Tuesday 1st September - Melbourne Gardens
- Wednesday 9th September - REGIONAL Sale Botanic Gardens
Term 4
- Tuesday 13th October – REGIONAL Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton
- Wednesday 14th October - REGIONAL Bendigo Botanic Gardens
- Tuesday 20th October - Cranbourne Gardens
- Thursday 29th October - Melbourne Gardens
- Thursday 12th November - REGIONAL Ballarat Botanical Gardens
- Tuesday 17th November - Melbourne Gardens
The Introductory Workshop will guide students though the skills required to practise Biomimicry following the Biomimicry Teaching Framework created by RBGV’s Learning Innovation Programs team.
Students will:
- Slow down and connect with the natural world
- Learn what Biomimicry is and why it is an important sustainable design practice
- Explore examples of bio-inspired innovations
- Observe plant adaptations on a micro and macro level
- Hypothesise on the functions behind these adaptations
- Discover how nature can inspire design for problem-solving
- Apply analogical reasoning skills to collaborate on a biomimetic design
This full day excursion occurs over two 1.5-hour long workshops. Students and teachers/ parents will have the opportunity to explore the Gardens in the 1-hour long lunch break between sessions.
Key focuses
- Distinguishing between ‘learning from’ and ‘learning about’ plants
- Exploring the function and form of plants
- Engaging in systems thinking
- Applying nature-inspired solutions to solve a student challenge
- Curriculum Links to Integrated STEM, Science, Mathematics, Technologies, Critical and Creative Thinking and Ethical Capability
For more information, please email biomimicry@rbg.vic.gov.au.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria acknowledges the support of the Department of Education, Victoria, through the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series. Eligible schools may apply for additional funding for transportation and CRTs via the Department of Education.
Gallery
Here is a snapshot of what your students will experience at The Biomimicry Project – Introductory Workshop.
An experienced RBGV Biomimicry Educator encourages students to use their senses to explore plant adaptations.
What is Biomimicry?
Learn more about this fascinating discipline of design inspired by nature.