Regional Specialist Program
(BSpecialty-Biomimicry Specialty Program)
In response to a tremendous expression of interest from our friends, collaborators and colleagues, The Biomimicry Group is pleased to offer the Biomimicry Specialty (BSpecialty) Program—an 8-month biomimicry training program designed to grow regional biomimicry expertise among individuals that form locally attuned biomimicry networks. Participants in the program will graduate as Regional Biomimicry Specialists, be empowered to incorporate biomimicry into their current or planned professions and serve as alliance members to their local biomimicry network.
Key Program Outcomes
- Integration into a collaborative regional cross-disciplinary network of individuals incorporating biomimicry into their professions
- Connection to and understanding of your regional ecology and your biome
- Discovery/continued development of your own creative talents through biomimicry
- Deepened sustainability ethic, practice, and understanding
- Trans-disciplinary collaboration skills
- Confidence and ability in providing biomimicry services as a specialty offering in your current (or planned) profession
- Regional Biomimicry Specialist designation recognized by the Biomimicry Group
Cohorts in the BSpecialty will be regionally based (examples: Western North America, Asia, Latin America). Depending on applications received, the number of participants in each regional cohort will be either 20-24 with two instructors, or 30-36 with three instructors. In this inaugural program offering, the number of 2011 cohorts will be limited to the region(s) with the highest number of applicants, and as such specific regions for 2011 have not yet been selected. We anticipate this program to scale up in 2012 and beyond to support regional cohorts all around the world. Ultimately, over time, as interest grows, regional delineations will shrink in size and be even more locally attuned to regional biomes (e.g. desert Southwest US, temperate deciduous northern Europe).
What to Expect
Learning biomimicry as a specialty is anything but a linear process, but yet is taught, learned, practiced, and experienced over time. Each topic from the fundamentals of biomimicry to integrating it into practice to mastering interdisciplinary skills is introduced, revisited, and practiced throughout the course. The 2011 BSpecialty cohorts are considered to be ‘beta’ in nature as this is a new educational offering. While we are applying 13 years of biomimicry education experience including countless workshops and the success of the two-year Biomimicry Professional Certificate Program, this inaugural year of the BSpecialty program will provide a lot of information and feedback to drive future program iterations - we are prepared to adapt and evolve over time to ensure continued delivery of rich experiences and valuable content through innovative learning methods!
Program Coursework and Schedule
The 8-month intensive program will commence March 2, 2011 and close November 6, 2011. The program will be delivered through a combination of in-person and distance learning experiences. The in-person work is conducted in your local region with your cohort, while the distance (on-line) learning is taught with all cohorts collectively. As such, you’ll develop deep relationships within your region, while meeting and interacting with participants from all over the world (depending on what regions are active in your year of participation).
In Person Sessions
Cohorts will spend three, 5-day in-person sessions together in three unique ecosystems within their region exploring biomimicry, learning about the local ecology, and developing a regional biomimicry network. Professionally trained and experienced biomimicry instructors, including at least one Certified Biomimicry Professional, will facilitate these in-person sessions and serve as a resource through the online coursework.
The 2011 BSpecialty in-person session schedule is captured below (subject to minor modifications, but each in-person will always include a weekend):
Kick-off Session: March 2 - 6, 2011
We begin the journey of the biomimicry specialty by exploring the foundational tools of biomimicry through lectures, exercises inside and out, deep conversations, and reflection. Working with the tools in the local biome, you’ll develop relationships with your fellow members of your cohort and the environment in which you are learning.Mid-term Session: July 7 - 11, 2011
We continue your journey through the Biomimicry Specialty Program by learning together how to customize the foundational tools for your practice through lectures, group feedback, exercises inside and out, deep conversations, and reflection. Working with the customized tools in the local biome for this session, you’ll further build upon relationships with your fellow members of your cohort and the environment in which you are learning.Closing Session: November 2 - 6, 2011
We close-out your journey through the Biomimicry Specialty Program by integrating all the program learning into a suite of individualized tools for your practice, as well as strengthening and formalizing your relationship with your regional network through group feedback, exercises inside and out, deep conversations, and reflection. You’ll have the opportunity to test your tools in the local biome for this session, while building further upon relationships with your fellow members of your cohort and the environment in which you are learning. The closing serves merely as a transition from this stage of your practice and into the next evolutionary step of learning.
Online Course
A 30-week online biomimicry course divided into 5-week units will run for the duration of the program and students will participate remotely. The online course will be led by Biomimicry Guild co-founder, Dr. Dayna Baumeister, and will include lectures, reading assignments, case studies, guest lecturers, individual exercises and occasional group exercises. There are no exams.
On-line Session A: The Seeds of Biomimicry
A series of lectures, on-line discussions, and off-line exercises and reflections, you’ll digest in depth the three seeds of biomimicry: ethos, (re)connect, and emulate.On-line Session B: Life’s Principles
A series of lectures, on-line discussions, and off-line exercises and reflections, you’ll explore in depth Life’s Principles, the most important cross-disciplinary tool of biomimicry.On-line Session C: Integrating Biology into Design
A series of lectures, on-line discussions, and off-line exercises and reflections, you’ll understand and practice how to integrate biology into your practice, whether it be industrial design, architecture, business, engineering, research, medicine, communications, and more.On-line Session D: Genius of the Biome
A series of lectures, on-line discussions, and off-line exercises and reflections, you’ll get to know your biome like an ecologist would, enabling you to access the genius of your place in your practice. In this session, you’ll also interact with participants of other cohorts who share your biome, but not your region (e.g. the biome temperate deciduous forest occurs in eastern North America, much of Europe, and central Asia).On-line Session E: Knowledge Assets
A series of lectures, on-line discussions, and off-line exercises and reflections, you’ll explore in depth where to find, use, and create the resources necessary to integrate biomimicry into your practice.On-line Session F: Communication
A series of lectures, on-line discussions, and off-line exercises and reflections, we’ll delve into different modes and means of communicating about biomimicry with multi-disciplinary audiences, venues, and opportunities.
The program is designed for working professionals and as such is not a full-time program. It is anticipated that the participants will need to commit 3 - 6 hours per week to the 30-week on-line program, plus the 15 days for the in-person session.
