BioInspired! So What? Now What!

... students want to play a role in creating sustainable, innovative solutions to humanity's most pressing challenges. They want to contribute to radical, paradigm-changing innovation, and protect our planet while doing so. They are seeking interdisciplinary opportunities that will provide them with skills and tools to help solve complex problems in a sustainable way, as well as opportunities to (re)connect with nature. Biomimicry education meets this need, and students are demanding that biomimicry be brought into their coursework and onto their campuses. In order to meet that demand, more educators must be trained in the fundamentals of biomimicry education.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for high school, college or university, and informal science teachers or lecturers who are interested in learning the fundamentals of biomimicry and integrating biomimicry teaching into new or existing courses, programs, displays, or exhibits.

What will participants learn?

• A solid understanding of what biomimicry is and how it differs from other bio-inspired approaches
• The practical application of biomimicry, including Life's Principles, as a design and sustainability tool
• Communication strategies and interpretive approaches for disseminating biomimicry knowledge, including to formal students and the general public
• Core skills for fostering collaborative design work
• Biological and ecological principles relevant to design
• Detailed examples of the latest biomimetic case studies
• How to leverage existing resources in their given institutions
• Curricula, communication strategies, funding opportunities, and collaboration strategies for bringing biomimicry into the classroom
• Design teaching tips from their peers

What will participants do?

• Learn from local plants, animals, and ecosystems – and how best to make use of their local environment for educational purposes
• Apply the biomimicry methodology to a mini-design challenge
• Practice using life's sustainable design principles as an assessment tool
• Share curricula and contribute to the idea pool for enhancing biomimicry education
• Co-develop biomimicry course and/or interpretive materials
• Assess opportunities and challenges within their own institutions or classrooms

What will participants take home?

• New inspiration for bringing nature's ideas to the classroom or exhibit space, along with a toolkit of methods, best practices, and activities
• One or two in-depth case studies to use as teaching tools
• One or two introductory biomimicry presentations, developed by the group
• Access to teaching and/or curricula modules developed by TBI
• A new network of enthusiastic biomimicry educators to call on for advice, and access to our supportive Biomimicry Educators' Network
• Resources and contacts for further exploration

Thanks to Kamelia Mitevia for the pointer!