The Biomimicry Institute
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I believe that biomimicry will become one of the major waves of our future, reversing the historical trends of trying to "dominate nature", and instead putting humankind back on track in studing the ingenious infinite coping mechanisms that nature has developed over the eons. Kudos to the Instutite of Biomimicry!
-Rich Wenzel
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Amongst other major innovations, am particularly impressed with the institute's work on organic solar electric cells.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Get them more funding!
When I first heard about Biomimicry and wanted to integrate it into my classroom curricula I had to do all the research myself. Now with the creation of the Biomimicry Institute and the Ask Nature resource I am able to bring incredible resources to my lessons.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Listening to their great CD with my child.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I came across The Biomimicry Institute a few years ago as I was preparing to teach a high school course on biomimicry. New to the field, but excited to dive in, I contacted TBI so see if they had any curricular materials they were willing to share. When they learned that I was planning to teach a semester-length course for high schoolers on biomimicry, they invited me to share my own materials with them for dissemination to other teachers, as they had little in the way of high school curriculum. Sam Stier, their Education Director, was great. He was supportive and encouraging. After seeing what my students produced, he invited me to attend TBI's education summit and to present my students' work. The summit was full of really interesting presentations and networking opportunities. Since then, I have seen many of the initiatives discussed at the summit implemented - the "Ask Nature" website and the certificate program in Biomimicry. This is an organization that is making things happen!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the support I received as I developed my own course in Biomimicry and the networking opportunities it provided to share what I had done and learn from others. I have also used some of their conceptual materials to help teach biomimicry concepts.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
try to make courses offered more financially accessible.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
meeting others with experience teaching biomimicry and with a passion for the subject.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
generally warm, helpful, and knowledgeable. Sam Stier, in particular, has done a great job of reaching out and keeping me in the loop.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
transform the lens and process we use to design things, systems, you name it, so that our solutions to design problems are more sustainable, elegant, and functional.
Ways to make it better...
the person who answered my questions when I inquired about the certificate program had treated me as a professional with valid and relevant skills and experiences (he was the only person at TBI with whom I've had a less than positive interaction).
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
scaling up their offerings in a way that maintains quality and affordability. So many more people need to know this stuff, and it is clear that they have more interest in their programs than they are currently able to serve.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
The Biomimicry Institute promotes learning from nature to create more sustainable human designs. Telling the best stories nature has to offer, provides an ever important vehicle to get our young people inspired to look at the world through a different lens; a lens that sees the amazing design lessons nature has to offer, a lens that sees we humans are just a part of nature, a lens that is inspired about what the future has to offer.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have benefited from the wonderful free resources that are made availalbe to teach about biomimicry. I have attend workshops and have joined a network of inspiring professional that want to make a difference in how people view the world & respect it.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Working with The Biomimicry Institute (TBI) has given us the opportunity to bring our laboratory research to a general public audience, enhancing the visibility and usefulness of our research beyond academia and industry. The free, online database of sustainable technologies inspired by nature (www.AskNature.org) is unlike any other resource out there. TBI is also helping us to create a physics lesson plan based on our research for high school teachers, connecting laboratory research to youth education. We envision that partnerships like ours will enhance the level of science available to the public, and increase scientific and engineering awareness.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
The Biomicry institute assisted me in preparing a middle school museum visit about biodiversity. Biomimicry forms a core of the visit as it is a great way to give students tools to look at nature's genious and to have hope forour future.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Very helpful service. They shared with me an excellent power point which became the basis for my visit. They provided a scientific review and offered very helpful advice. They have offered continued colaboration.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Thanks, Rich, for this review and mostly, for sharing our interests and concerns and being an evangelist for biomimicry in your own work! - Diana Lee, Biomimicry Institute