Immersion Workshop: Discover Nature’s Genius Workshop Australia 2016

Immersion Workshop | Discover Nature’s Genius in Australia

September 5–10, 2016 | Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Registration for this workshop is now closed.

Join us at the junction of the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest and one of the most iconic natural landmarks on Earth and experience biomimicry in the Land Down Under during Biomimicry 3.8’s next Discovering Nature’s Genius immersion workshop in Australia.

We’re setting up shop, along with our friends at Biomimicry Australia, in Cape Tribulation, Queensland—where two World Heritage Sites, the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, meet—as we inspire designers, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world to view nature in a new, life-friendly way.

The interlinking ecosystems provide a stunning backdrop to help introduce participants to biomimicry, allowing them to discover, unpack, and be inspired by biological intelligence that they can bring to their work. Queensland is home to thousands of unique organisms—or mentors, as we like to call them— from the iconic coral in the Great Barrier Reef to the Boyd’s forest dragon that thermoregulates by tapping into ambient conditions of the Daintree Rainforest.

It’s among these organisms that participants will begin honing and developing the skills to tap into nature’s genius while inspiring new innovations.

Upon completing this immersion program, you will be able to:

Identify sustainable innovation strategies in nature and discern the functional objectives being achieved by forms, processes, and systems in nature
Translate biological phenomenon into relevant and applicable design principles
Recognize Life’s Principles, the rules for the way life on Earth can survive and thrive, in natural systems and in human design
Assemble interdisciplinary biomimicry work teams based on required core competencies

In addition to a life-changing experience, immersion workshop participants also receive access to the Introduction to Biomimicry online course and earn credit toward a Biomimicry Specialist Certificate. We also have a special guest who will foster deep conversations about the human-nature connection—quite fitting for a week of humans immersed in life’s biological richness!

Watch: Experience Biomimicry 3.8’s immersion workshops

What to Expect

Each immersion workshop is tailored to the local ecosystem. In Queensland, we’ll be exploring the vast tropical Daintree Rainforest, along with the coastal region and ocean connected to the Great Barrier Reef. It makes for a jam-packed six days of full-on exploring. Here’s a sample of what you’ll experience with us in Australia:

Day 1:

Meet the group in Cairns, Australia, jump on a bus, and head to Cape Tribulation Guest House in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest. Settle in at the lodge and spend the afternoon getting oriented to biological wonders of the tropical rainforest or wander down to the pristine beach to see what organisms are thriving there.

Day 2:

Begin honing your observation skills of the Australian flora and fauna while diving into the world of biomimicry. Explore the intertidal zone and life’s resilience strategies while connecting with Life’s Principles, a Biomimicry 3.8 tool that summarizes the rules for how life on Earth survives and thrives, and the biomimicry methodology.

Day 3:

Deepen your understanding of Life’s Principles on a mangrove kayaking tour. Regroup back at the lodge and discuss the experience of abstracting Life’s Principles in the field. After dinner, put on your headlamp and head out for a whole new perspective of the rainforest on a guided night walk discovering organisms you never knew existed.

Day 4:

After an early morning bird walk, assemble into small discovery teams to go deep into understanding the unique adaptations of a tropical organism of your choice Spend the afternoon getting inspired snorkeling among sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy an evening conversation about the human-nature connection.

Day 5:

Spend the day with your team on a continued journey of discovery into your selected tropical organism and share with the group what you’ve learned and what ideas it has inspired. Dedicate some time to giving thanks to the wisdom found in the tropics and then get ready to celebrate the closing of the workshop with the group

Day 6:

After breakfast, load up your gear onto the bus and make one more stop at the Marrdja Botanical Walk to appreciate the rainforest in it’s full splendor. Spend the morning exploring the riparian habitat and mangroves. You’ll see strangler figs and perhaps witness the spectacular archer fishes (Toxotes jaculatrix) hunting insects by spitting streams of water. End the day back in Cairns and head back to the airport… or stay in Australia to continue traveling – either way, the next biomimicry adventure awaits!

Workshop Location and Accommodations

The workshop will be held at the Cape Tribulation Guest House in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest. All cabins are air-conditioned, have en-suite bathrooms and a balcony. Step out your cabin door and walk only meters to the famous and secluded Cape Tribulation Beach, where the Great Barrier Reef will stretch out before you.

Workshop Facilitators

Dayna Baumeister

Biomimicry 3.8 Co-Founder

Dr. Baumeister is a world-renowned biomimicry lecturer and consultant as well as the Director of the Biomimicry Professional Certificate Program and co-director of The Biomimicry Center at ASU. With a background in biology, a devotion to applied natural history, and a passion for sharing the wonders of nature with others, Dayna has worked in the field of biomimicry with business partner Janine Benyus since 1998 as a business catalyst, educator, researcher, and design consultant. As a workshop leader, she will share her 18+ years of experience bringing biological intelligence to a wide range of audiences as well as her visionary leadership for the meme.[/two_third_last]

Karen Allen

Certified Biomimicry Professional, Restoration Ecologist

Karen is a Certified Biomimicry Professional, biologist, and facilitator who is passionate about sharing the secrets of the natural world to inform sustainable innovations. She is a seasoned biomimicry educator, researcher, and consultant who has been practicing biomimicry on a variety of projects since 2000. Her interdisciplinary science background and love of natural history help Karen translate nature’s strategies for architects, engineers, and designers. She co-instructs the Biomimicry Professional Certification Program, teaches the Biology Taught Functionally course through ASU Online, and protects and restores ecosystems, bringing a systems perspective to the practice of biomimicry.[/two_third_last]

Special guests

Thomas Baumeister

PhD– Faculty Associate, ASU and Executive Director, Montana WILD!

With the analytical mind of a scientist and the caring heart of a conservationist, Thomas has devoted his professional and personal life to decode how wild things have and continue to shape humanity, and to use these insights to make this world a better place for both human and non-human animals. As a scientist, manager, and educator he gets to study, put into practice, and share with others how and why nature, and wild animals in particular, matter and ought to matter to us. Trained as a wildlife biologist and versed in psychology, philosophy, and sociology, Thomas brings innovative and strategic thinking to vexing human-nature challenges drawing from interdisciplinary approaches such as anthrozoology, conservation psychology, and applied ethics.

Jane Toner

Certified Biomimicry Professional, Architect

Jane is an Architect, Regenerative Design Consultant and the first certified Biomimicry Specialist and Biomimicry Professional in Australia. She is the founder of Biomimicry Australia, a collaborative network seeking to attract, connect and inspire designers interested in learning from Australia’s unique organisms and applying their strategies to develop innovative, well-adapted solutions for living in our beautiful, challenging country.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is open to professional- and university-level participants from all backgrounds and levels of experience with biomimicry. The agenda is designed to give non-biologists a front door into the world of biology and how to apply its lessons. Biologists will also find value in the workshop in learning how to make biological information accessible, relevant, and valuable to a wide range of audiences.

Pricing

Delicious and healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks, overnight accommodations for five nights, airport transportation, all activities during the week including snorkeling and kayak tours, tuition, and administration costs are included in the all-inclusive price of US$4,350 (A$5,675). Private rooms are available for an extra fee; full pricing information is available on the registration form. You can reserve your seat for only $500.

Discounts (Sold Out)

In an effort to support the amazing local individuals and organizations, we are offering a $900 discount to the first six Australians to register. Discounts are limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis.

Registration

Regular registration has now closed.

Discover Nature's Genius