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Seminars

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An Introduction to Locally Attuned Biomimicry
Through our local Biomimicry Chicago network, we develop and facilitate seminars dedicated to exploring the concepts of biomimicry within the context of our local ecosystems. Through these experiences, participants explore the prairie ecosystem and dive deep into concepts that are relevant to the changes in the seasons. Issues of dormancy, water, energy, and waste are explored with the goal of learning from nature's strategies and embedding them into the design of our region.

Previous Experiences:

  • Stories from the Prairie: Dormancy. A 
    2-hour seminar focused on understanding nature's dormancy strategies and applying them to the context of the built environment and economics. Chicago Center for Green Technology. Spring 2013.
  • Biomimicry: An Introduction. A 2-hour seminar introducing biomimicry to a general audience. Chicago Center for Green Technology. Spring 2012. 

Workshops

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Engaging Participants in Naturally Inspired Problem Solving
The B-Collaborative designs and facilitates experiences that, through the tools of biomimicry, allow participants to experience nature's deep principles of design and embed them into their context. Through a combination of experiential learning exercises, live lecture, and facilitated brainstorming, these immersive experiences are adapted to each challenge and relevant to the individual context of your organization. 


Previous Experiences:

  • "BEND, Don't Break" Systemic Resilience Mini-Workshop. Living Future unConference. Seattle, 2013.
  • The Prairie Project Bio-Brainstorm.
    In collaboration with the Living Building Challenge Collaborative Chicago's Near West Side Design Competition. Chicago, 2013. Read about the experience in Trim Tab.
  • "BEND, Don't Break" Natural Resilience Mini-Workshop. Bioneers Chicago. Chicago, 2012.
  • "Naturally Resilient" seminar. A 2 hour sampling of the full BEND Resilience Workshop, focusing on embedding thresholds and feedback loops into organizational strategy. Chicago Center for Green Technology. Chicago, 2012.

Guest Lectures

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Showcasing Biomimicry to Your Class or Organization
We collaborate with local educational institutions to teach biomimicry to a wide range of audiences, from elementary to university level, and beyond.  Combining interesting lectures and case studies with systems-thinking experiences that get us out of the classroom and into the fields (if only virtually), our guest lectures give you and your students a taste of how biomimicry can be applied to your context. 


Previous Experiences:

  • Professional Development. "Biomimicry and the Built Environment." USGBC-Illinois Spring Credential Maintenance Blitz. Chicago, 2013.
  • University Business Classes. "Biomimicry in Business Systems." University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business. South Bend, Indiana. 2013.
  • University Design Classes. Bringing a biomimicry lens to university level design classes, including Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and Judson University in Elgin.
  • "Flash Talk: AskNature." Great Lakes Bioneers Conference to an audience of over 150 people. Chicago, 2012.
  • Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE) class, "Eco-Justice: A Vision for a Sustainable City". 2012.
  • Panel Discussion. Amy was on a biomimicry inspired panel for Chicago's Foresight Green Drinks. 2011.
  • Pecha Kucha at Ryerson Woods. 2011.
  • American Institute of Architects Northeast Illinois Chapter Committee on the Environment. 2011.
  • Green Drinks, Naperville. 2011
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Contact biomimicry@b-collaborative.com and follow her on twitter @amycoffman. 
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