03 Mar Backyard Biomimicry Lecture and Workshop

Learn about biomimicry in the context of Austin’s local ecosystem with the foremost leaders in the field and connect with others in our regional biomimicry network. In this Backyard Biomimicry Workshop offered by the Biomimicry Group, you’ll co-learn with students and professional of various disciplines about the foundations of biomimicry and equip yourself to approach our region’s most pressing design challenges by drawing inspirations from the natural world- found right in our own backyard!

Biomimicry, the discipline of applying nature’s principles to solve human problems, provides the means to achieve both environmental and economic goals.

Many of the mechanisms and systems found in nature are highly efficient, eschew waste, and are sustainable in a virtually closed system. Biomimicry could be a major economic game changer. Biomimicry could represent a revolutionary change in our economy by transforming many of the ways we think about designing, producing, transporting, and distributing goods and services.

Examples of biomimicry are now many, yet the term is still largely unfamiliar to most. It’s not escaping the attention of the Harvard Business Review, TED, TIME, FastCompany or Fortune Magazine, however. Just as green building and green/sustainable anything were seen as trends a few year ago, biomimicry is witnessing a spike and will transition from hot trend to just part of how take idea to innovation. The following links offer many examples of biomimicry and offer commentary from some of the most respected publications  and think tanks out there.

TED – http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html
Fast Company – http://www.fastcompany.com/1648801/biomimicry-challenge-smart-design-ecosystem-approach-to-water-conservation-for-ibm
Harvard Business Review – http://hbr.org/web/2009/hbr-list/business-of-biomimicry
Fortune – http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/feb2008/id20080211_074559.htm
TIME – http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1663317_1663319_1669888,00.html

While the field today is just emerging, in 15 years biomimicry could represent $300 billion annually of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 dollars. It could provide another $50 billion in terms of mitigating the depletion of various natural resources and reducing CO2 pollution. Biomimicry could account for 1.6 million U.S. jobs by 2025. Globally, biomimicry could represent about $1.0 trillion of GDP in 15 years. (source: “The Global Biomimicry Efforts: An Economic Game Changer”, November 2010, Commissioned by the San Diego Zoo)

The applications of biomimicry to commercial use could transform large slices of various industries in coming years and ultimately impact all segments of the economy. Industries that could be particularly affected include utilities, transportation equipment, chemical manufacturing, warehousing/storage, and waste management, architecture and engineering.

Pre-workshop Evening Lecture: Thursday, March 31, 2011
Latest news from the world of biomimicry – donations only, all proceeds go to The Biomimicry Institute   –  Location: AT&T Conference Center, 1900 University Avenue, Austin from 6-7pm, sign-in begins at 5:30pm. (preregistration encouraged due to limited seating)

Introduction to the Foundations of Biomimicry – Friday, April 1, 2011 – $249  – Location: Vinson & Elkins, 2801 Via Fortuna, Austin

Hands-on Exploration of the Foundations of Biomimicry – Saturday, April 2 – Sunday, April 3, 2011 – $499 – Note: Must have completed online Biomimicry Foundational courses or attended Day 1 –
Location: Vinson & Elkins, 2801 Via Fortuna, Austin

Instructor(s):
Chris Allen, CEO, Biomimicry Group, Certified Biomimicry Professional (CBP)
Juan Rovalo, Taller de Operaciones Ambientales, CBP
Kathy Zarsky, HOLOS, Biomimicry Specialty Certificate Candidate 

Special thanks to our local sponsors!

• Vinson & Elkins, LLP
• The University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture
• The University of Texas at Austin, Office of Sustainability

Register Now!  http://www.biomimicry.net/ProfessionalPathways/html/pathway/backyard_workshops.html Registration Deadline: March 18, 2011

(Please note that multiple registration options available & registration is required for all events in the workshop sequence)

For even more ways to participate now, you can submit your design challenge to our SXSW panel on panel or facebook. On twitter, check out the #SXswarm hashtag for more information or join our SXSWswarm facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/SXSW-Swarm/131378766906071. You can also easily track the stream on one of biomimicry’s best resources, AskNature.org http://asknature.org/article/35ab78c35d5ff77a6f5e3da6c5bea642.