BioInspired! So What? Now What!

Want to teach your students about biomimicry? Want to get them excited and engaged by looking to nature for inventive ideas? Join the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge! 

The Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge is a unique initiative by The Biomimicry Institute (TBI) to engage educators to teach biomimicry to their students through an annual contest. Students of primary and secondary school age can explore the fascinating world of biomimicry and learn the science and processes involved in design inspired by nature. The Challenge combines standard curriculum (science, technology, engineering, etc.) with rigorous and exciting experiential learning - a hallmark of TBI’s programs.

Essential Dates:
February 1, 2012 - Registration closes
April 1, 2012 - Submit materials
May, 2012 - Winners Announced

There are three categories for the 2011-2012 Challenge.

Ask the Planet (typical ages 4-8). Teachers who work within this category will submit a classroom activity they and their students created based on the award-winning curricula associated with the Ask The Planet CD.

Biology to Design (typical ages 9-13). Students who submit for this category must spend time gathering data outside on one particular species (or ecosystem) that they think could help solve a human design problem. Activities will involve natural history observation and enhance critical thinking.

Challenge to Biology (typical ages 14-18). For these students, the Challenge culminates in the building, designing and testing of prototypes of the students’ own inventions, original biological research, and activities to enhance critical thinking and creative design capacity.

Essential Information:
Register for the Challenge
Challenge Rules (PDF)
Submit for Biology to Design category (PDF)
Submit for Challenge to Biology category (PDF)