What To Expect
Every immersion workshop is tailored to the local ecosystem, setting up each day to be brimming with content and exploration. You should plan to clear your agenda and fully immerse yourself in the biomimicry experience. In Costa Rica, we’ll explore mangroves by kayak, snorkel among parrotfish in the coral reef, and discover the wonders of the rainforest with a local expert.
Upon completing this immersion workshop, you will be able to begin to integrate the practice of biomimicry in your work and life. The workshop experience will prepare you to:
- Identify sustainable innovation strategies in nature
- Understand functional objectives being achieved by forms, processes, and systems in nature
- Translate biological intelligence into relevant and applicable solutions and strategies
- Recognize and use Life’s Principles—design lessons from nature—that can be modeled to create innovative strategies and be used as sustainability benchmarks
It makes for a jam-packed seven days of full-on, biomimicry-based exploration.
PREVIEW AGENDA×PREVIEW AGENDA
What can you expect to experience while you Discover Nature’s Genius in Costa Rica? Here’s a preview of what each day will include:
January 14: Meet the group in the morning, jump on a regional plane, and head to La Cusinga Lodge on the southern coast—enjoy the spectacular view of mountains and sea! Settle in at the lodge and spend the afternoon getting oriented to biological wonders of the tropical rainforest or wander down to the private beach to see what organisms are thriving there.
January 15: Begin honing your observation skills of the Costa Rican flora and fauna and 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 designs lessons from nature for how life on Earth survives and thrives—and the biomimicry methodology.
January 16: 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.
January 17: Dive into the Biomimicry Thinking methodology using biology you observed during an intertidal walk. After dinner, put on your headlamp and head out for an entirely new perspective of the rainforest during a guided night walk.
January 18: 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 while snorkeling over a nearby coral reef.
January 19: 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’s 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!
January 20: After breakfast, load up your gear onto the bus and head for the Cerro Cloud Forest for an afternoon of exploring a completely different side of Costa Rica and adaptations at high altitudes—don’t forget your jacket! End the day back in San Jose… or stay in Costa Rica to continue traveling—either way, the next biomimicry adventure awaits!
Instructors
Karen Allen
Certified Biomimicry Professional, Restoration Ecologist
Karen Allen 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. An 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.
Jamie Dwyer
Biomimicry 3.8 Principal, Certified Biomimicry Professional
Biomimicry provides the perfect opportunity to fuse Jamie’s seemingly divergent interest in the fields of biology and architectural design. Her work for Biomimicry 3.8 is often focused on integrating biomimicry in the built environment, from uncovering local biological champions as inspiration for place-based design to working towards creating factories that provide ecosystem services like a forest. Jamie has also led innovative research efforts in product design and social innovation. Working with companies such as HOK, BNIM, Interface, and Kimberly-Clark, Jamie has managed projects, led research and inspired many designers. Jamie has led hundreds of budding biomimics through the biomimicry design process as well as through ecosystems around the world during past biomimicry workshops.
Chris Montero
Naturalist
Chris Montero is a traveling naturalist. His enthusiasm for nature began with a large focus on reptiles, but eventually expanded to other organisms such as insects, birds, mammals, and plants. He began his studies in biology and general ecology in his native Costa Rica. Twelve years ago, Chris moved to Washington state, where he finished his studies at the Evergreen State College. Professionally, he has an “amphibian” career with one foot in art and the other in natural sciences, which has allowed him to work as both a scientific illustrator and an environmental interpreter. He had the privilege of working as a nature guide for the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica, a field instructor for the Sierra Institute in Belize and Guatemala and, since 2005, a naturalist for the Biomimicry 3.8 programs in Costa Rica. He currently works as a Wildlife & Conservation trip leader for National Geographic Student Expeditions in Australia, Ecuador, Belize, and Brazil, and more recently as the Outreach Coordinator for Wolf Haven International, giving presentations, writing articles, and creating educational material about wolves and carnivores in general.
Pricing/Discounts
The all-inclusive price for the workshop includes delicious, organic, and when possible, locally harvested breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks; overnight accommodations for six nights; all activities during the week; tuition and course materials; transportation from the San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) International Airport; and administration costs. A variety of accommodations are available at La Cusinga Lodge to meet your needs and budget, from bunk rooms to private en suite rooms. All rooming types are limited and first come, first served. See photos of the rooms on La Cusinga’s website. We’ve got a few last spots to fill! $500 USD due upon registration. Regular registration is closed, so full payment will be invoiced immediately.
All of La Cusinga’s rooms are built from sustainable reforested wood and designed for your comfort. Each room has a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, the Ballena Marine National Park, and the rainforest.
Shared bunk room | $4,250
These large rooms have bunk beds, a private bathroom, and a terrace.
Shared double room en suite | $4,425
These shared rooms have two queen beds, a private en suite bathroom, and a balcony. You can request a roommate or we will assign you a roommate of the same sex.
Private room en suite | $4,600
These deluxe rooms provide a comfortable queen or king size bed, your own en suite bathroom, and either a balcony or patio.
Registration information/deadlines
Online registration forms must be completed by November 15, 2018. All instructions and pricing information is included within the form. Late registration will be accepted through December 10, 2018 pending availability.
Discounts – Limited Availability!
All discounts have limited availability, are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and may not be combined.
- Student discount: Enrolled university students save $250. Must upload a copy of current student ID upon registration.
- Biomimicry Global Network member discount: Members of a local Biomimicry Global Network save $250. Must upload brief, written endorsement from local network leader upon registration.
- Group Discounts: Groups of 3 or more receive a tuition discount. Email workshops@biomimicry.net to receive a discount code.
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Workshop Registration Closed
