Biomimicry Design Charette
How can urban harbors accrete sediment and stop erosion like the salt marsh;
while improving water quality like the oyster reef
and creating a habitat for other species like eel grass beds?
Two years since Superstorm Sandy, the world is a different place. Everyone is talking about “resilient coastal cities”, but what does that really mean? What can we learn from inherently sustainable and resilient natural systems? And how can we apply nature’s adaptive strategies to our urban harbors?
THE CHALLENGE
How would nature design resilient breakwaters, supporting human and ecological services and functions?
OBJECTIVES
Introduction to the science, philosophy and practice of Biomimicry and the 6 Biomimicry Principles.
PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Design charrette of a local breakwater on Governor’s Island. Work with an interdisciplinary team of designers, biologists, architects, engineers and planners. Final designs will be presented to the NY Harbor School
WHEN Monday, November 17th from 10AM to 5PM
WHERE Pershing Hall, Governor’s Island – the Ferry leaves from the Battery Maritime Building (the historic green building to the left of the glass Staten Island Ferry bldg) promptly at 10 AM. Address: 10 South St, New York, NY 10004
COST $45 per person, $40 for first 10 registrants
RSVP
LEAD INSTRUCTOR : DR. ANAMARIJA FRANKIC
Dr. Frankic is founder and director of the Green Harbors Project®. She is a Biomimicry Educational Fellow, and a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Zadar. Her background in biology, ecology, limnology and marine science guide her interdisciplinary work in coastal and watershed ecosystem stewardship and restoration. Anamarija founded the LivingLabs® program where students and local communities can ‘learn and teach by doing’ biomimicry, applying nature’s wisdom to be healthy, wealthy and resilient.
ABOUT THE DESIGN CHARETTE
Each participant will be assigned to a diverse 5 person team, based on your background and experience. Volunteers from BiomimicryNYC and Biomimicry New England will be assigned to each team in order to provide guidance through the research phase and biomimicry design process.
WORKSHOP PARTNER : THE NY HARBOR SCHOOL
Located in the heart of New York Harbor, Harbor School’s mission is to provide a college-preparatory education built upon New York City’s maritime experience that instills in students the ethics of environmental stewardship and the skills associated with careers on the water.
SPONSORSHIP AND COMMUNITY PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES:
Community Partner and Sponsor Packet_BiomimicryNYC_Urban Green Harbors
We would like to thank our Community Sponsors
HOK is a global biomimicry leader in the built environment as well as thought leadership on how to integrate Life’s Principles in design, urban development and whole systems thinking. Their “Genius of Biome” report, developed in partnership with Biomimicry 3.8 is a study which explores “how lessons from the temperate broadleaf forest biome, which houses many of the world’s largest population centers, can inform the design of the built environment.”
Environmental Connection, Inc., is a full service environmental firm offering services ranging from industrial hygiene to integrity risk/compliance monitoring and complex forensic investigative analysis. We are dedicated advocates of sustainability, and provide measurement and analytical services for projects with sustainability features.
As well as our Community Partners
The Urban Future Lab is a marriage of the city’s premiere clean and resilient tech incubator, and is dedicated to envisioning and realizing innovation in the cleantech sector, with a particular focus on energy, sustainable urban infrastructure, water, transportation and air quality.
Design for Social Innovation is an emerging discipline that works at a systems level, shifting cultures, igniting collective creativity, and realizing the kind of transformational opportunities for business and society that we need most right now. MFA Design for Social Innovation at SVA NYC is the first program dedicated to teaching design at scale to produce this discipline’s next leaders.
EcoArchitecture Design Works PC is a design consultancy founded by Ms. Janus Welton, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, which combines Sustainability,Energy Efficiency, Building Biology, Bio- Geometry, Biomimicry and Classical Chinese F.S. Building Patterns in Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning. Ms. Welton is also a Founding Member of the BiomimicryNYC network.
Workshop: Women’s Leadership Lessons Through Biomimicry
Women leading change in these dynamic times are tuning into new sources of inspiration—personally, socially, and globally. They are seeking guidance in how to be more adaptive, resilient, networked, and systemic — all things we can learn from the natural world around us.
During the weekend, participants will learn to integrate biomimicry methods with leadership practices. What might we learn about cooperation from a forest ecosystem? How can nature’s feedback loops inspire us in cultivating our networks? How can bee colonies mentor us for self-organizing within a community?
WHAT Women’s Leadership Lessons From the Living Earth
WHEN October 10, 2014 – October 12, 2014
WHERE The Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, New York
LEAD BY
Toby Herzlich, founder of Biomimicry for Social Innovation, is a Senior Trainer with the Rockwood Leadership Institute and cofounder of Cultivating Women’s Leadership. She’s taught women to be effective, heartfelt, nature-inspired leaders in Israel, Bosnia, the US and Canada. bio-sis.net
Dayna Baumeister, PhD, devoted biologist and educator, is co-founder of the Biomimicry Institute and Biomimicry 3.8. She guides leaders globally to learn from nature as mentor in solving the world’s sustainability challenges. biomimicryinstitute.org
BiomimicryNYC Leadership to Speak to Emerging Design Professionals
BiomimicryNYC board member and Biomimicry Chemist Mark Dorfman, as well as Founding Member and architect Janus Welton will speak to emerging design professionals at the ASID (American Association of Interior Designers) GoPro event this September.
Mark and Janus will share their experience as biomimicry practitioners in the fields of materials and design and architecture. As a biomimicry chemist, Mark has worked with companies looking to improve material performance and increase sustainability by taking cues from nature’s life-friendly chemistry. He will give an overview of biomimicry, describe the methodology he uses to find nature-inspired solutions to real-life challenges, provide some case examples, and paint a picture of where the field is heading.
Janus, a LEED certified architect, interior designer and educator will discuss nature’s time-tested designs that inspire innovation in the design process. She will share biomimicry products, case studies of biomimicry applied to the built environment and challenge you with a new design paradigm based on Nature’s forms, processes and systems.
Discovering Nature’s Genius
WHAT Immersive Biomimicry Workshop with Biomimicry 3.8
WHEN December 9 – 14th, 2014
WHERE La Cusinga Lodge, Uvita, Costa Rica
This program held by Biomimicry 3.8 will empower you in the practice of biomimicry by strengthening your ability to use the biomimicry process for discovering nature’s amazing adaptations developed over 3.8 billion years of evolution. Your program leaders will guide your discovery into how life’s strategies can help humanity solve its own challenges in design, business, engineering, and beyond.
This immersion experience held in the tropical rainforest ecosystem of Costa Rica will teach you how to deeply observe the natural world with the support from our experienced program leaders and translate those observations into insights that can drive innovative, biomimetic solutions to a wide range of challenges.
The #Regenerative Economy Network Event
With 3.8 billion years of R&D experience our natural world is a master innovator and stellar model of ubiquitous design. How can our cities, businesses, products and services help “create conditions conducive to life” like the natural world?
Focusing on economic metrics, business and investment standards, authors Amy Larkin and Katherine Collins will discuss their recently published books that describe solutions to create a regenerative economy – an economy that helps create conditions conducive to life on this planet. As Janine Benyus (the scientist philosopher who coined the term biomimicry) stated, “We are nature, but we’re really young. Our biological elders are wise … I’d like us to become a species that not only fits in, but contributes.”
“A regenerative economy is one that aligns the rules of business with the laws and principles of nature,” Adiel Gavish, founder of BiomimicryNYC. Join the BNYC network to learn more about this emerging discipline and how we can contribute “more good”, and not just “less bad”. Drinks, hors d’oeuvres and networking starting at 7 pm, plus two 10 minute talks starting at 7:30 pm with lots of time for Q&A.
WHAT The #Regenerative Economy: Aligning Business and Nature network event
WHEN Tuesday, July 22 from 7 pm to 9 pm
WHERE Impact Hub NYC at 394 Broadway is a co-working & events space for a global community of professionals taking action to drive positive social and environmental change. BNYC is proud to support this growing organization as a Founding Partner.
KATHERINE COLLINS
Inspired by the innovative and community-based ways of the honey bee, Katherine Collins will discuss her book, “The Nature of Investing: Resilient Investment Strategies through Biomimicry”. Drawing from over 20 years in finance and careful biomimicry study, Katherine will describe how we can re-align with the natural world, and look to nature as a guide for investing in an integrated, regenerative way that is beneficial to our communities and the planet.
AMY LARKIN
An award-winning entrepreneur and environmental activist, Amy Larkin will speak about her recent book, “Environmental Debt: the Hidden Costs of a Changing Global Economy”. Amy makes the direct connections between our global environmental and financial crises and identifies the (often hidden) levers for transformational change. Amy writes for the Guardian Sustainable Business Hub and is the new Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on climate change.
Expedition in South Africa
WHAT Biomimicry training expedition
WHEN September 7-11th, 2014
WHERE Victoria Falls & Zambezi River with accomodations at the Chundu Island Camp
To register visit here.
Training Includes:
- Expanding the basics of biomimicry thinking & practice
- A deepening understanding of biomimicry and its core elements
- Exploring case studies in the field illustrating biomimicry innovation
- Discovering the genius of local organisms and ecosystems
- How to apply biological knowledge to relevant design challenges
- Exploring biomimicry Life’s Principles in the field
Expedition Activities:
- Guided bush walks, game drives and river cruises
- With a Biomimicry Professional & specialist biomimicry guide
- Practical biomimicry training (biomimicry thinking tools in practice)
- Exploring the genius of place through the lens of biomimicry
- Deep observation activities
- Group work on relevant design challenges
Expedition in Machu Picchu
WHO Taught by Biomimicry Specialist and Founder of Biomimicry Argentina, Monica Cohen as well as Gianne Broco of Biomimicry Brasil.
WHAT Biomimicry Argentina and Biomimicry Brasil have teamed up to present a trip of a lifetime in one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
WHEN From July 30th – August 7th WHERE: MACHU PICCHU
MORE INFO Registration until June 20th. Please contact Monica at: monical.cohen@gmail.com for additional details, and visit their Facebook page.
WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS
WHAT REGISTER for this summer’s “Biomimicry Workshop for K-12 Educators” organized by BiomimicryNYC and the BOCES Center for Environmental Education. Taught by Dr. Sue Kezios.
COST Only $75 due to generous support by NYSERDA. BiomimicryNYC will be providing four (4) $100 scholarships towards room and board. To apply for a scholarship, please contact Adiel Gavish.
WHERE The beautiful Omega Center for Sustainable Living, Rhinebeck, NY. Room and board are additional.
WHEN June 30 – July 3, 2014
MORE INFO Contact Dorna Schroeter with questions about the program.
CONTACT ADIEL GAVISH AT ADIEL@BIOMIMICRYNYC.COM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A FEATURED SPEAKER AT ONE OF OUR NETWORK MEETINGS AND FOR EVENT SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION.
WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS
WHO: K-12 Educators
WHAT: REGISTER for this summer’s “Biomimicry Workshop for K-12 Educators” organized by BiomimicryNYC and the BOCES Center for Environmental Education. Taught by Dr. Sue Kezios.
WHERE: The beautiful Omega Center for Sustainable Living, Rhinebeck, NY. Room and board are additional.
WHEN: June 30 – July 3, 2014
COST: Only $75 due to generous support by NYSERDA. BiomimicryNYC will be providing four (4) $100 scholarships towards room and board. To apply for a scholarship, please contact Adiel Gavish.
CONTACT: Dorna Schroeter with questions about the program.
GUEST SPEAKER: BOARD MEMBER MARK DORFMAN
WHO: Columbia Business School Green Business Summit
WHAT: The event speakers and panels will focus on “Disruptive Technologies for Transitioning to a Sustainable Economy”. Mark Dorfman, Biomimicry Chemist will participate in the discussion on “The Evolution of 3-D Printing” and will elaborate on the concept of additive manufacturing.
WHEN: Friday, April 4 from 2:30 – 6 pm
WHERE: Columbia Business School
REGISTER: ow.ly/uPKg7
BIOMIMICRY WEEK NYC 2012
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15 , 2012
National Design Award Winners’ Panel: 7 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us for a special panel discussion as National Design Award winners share their inspiration and drive as designers. Moderated by Richard Saul Wurman, panelists will include Janine Benyus, Thom Browne, Rebeca Méndez, and Scott Wilson. Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP and additional details here.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 
Pop-Up Exhibit: 12 pm – 5 pm with docents
5 pm to 8 pm without docents
An in-depth look at cutting edge technologies in architecture, engineering and products design. Explore “Life’s Principles” through Biomimietic products and Poster Displays. Making nature-inspired design tangible for the general public.
Venue: The GROHE Live! Center: 160 Fifth Avenue, 4th floor.
RSVP: adiel@biomimicrynyc.com
Biomimicry Innovation Center Interactive Discussion: 6 pm – 8 pm 
Join Terrapin Bright Green Partner Chris Garvin as he explains how a new Biomimicry Innovation Center will impact companies, academics, private funding and government in New York State.
Venue: The GROHE Live! Center: 160 Fifth Avenue, 4th floor.
National Design Awards Gala: 6 – 9 pm
Cooper Hewitt Design Museum Janine Benyus to be honored with the 2012 Design Mind Award from the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
Pop-Up Exhibit: 10 am – 5 pm
An in-depth look at nature-inspired innovation through Biomimietic products and Poster Displays on “Life’s Principles”. Making “innovation inspired by nature” tangible for the general public.
RSVP: adiel@biomimicrynyc.com
Cocktail Reception: 6 pm – 8 pm 
Join us in celebration of Janine Benyus’ receipt of the Cooper Hewitt Design Mind Award, and the official launch of the BiomimicryNYC regional network. Please contact Adiel at adiel@biomimicrynyc.com for details.
Organic, local and biodynamic catering by Cloud Catering.
Dance Swarm: 9 pm – 11 pm
Location: TBA
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 – 21 
The Omega Institute Design by Nature Conference
Keynote address by Janine Benyus.
Members of BiomimicryNYC will be given a discounted ticket rate. Please contact adiel@biomimicrynyc.com for details.
FEBRUARY BIOBEERS
WHAT: BioBeers
Develop your network, share a drink with fellow biomimicry enthusiasts and DREAM of a city inspired by nature.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
WHERE: Marble Lane, DREAM Downtown
355 W 16th St, New York, NY
REGISTER HERE : http://biobeersfebruary.eventbrite.com
NOVEMBER BRAINSWARM
WHAT: The New York City network is swarming again to catalyze nature-inspired innovation, exercise our creative synapses and connect with fellow biomimicry enthusiasts.
SPECIAL TALK by Mark Dorfman, Green Chemistry Naturalist with Biomimicry 3.8 on, “How does nature “do” life-friendly chemistry? An Introduction”
WHEN: Thursday, November 8th, 2013 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
WHERE: The Grohe Live! Center 160 5th ave, 4th floor (entrance is on 21st street around the corner from Club Monaco)
For a fun 1-minute intro to nature’s chemistry, please watch this “Ask Nature Nugget”, courtesty of Biomimicry 3.8:
Ask Nature Nugget: Life Friendly Chemistry