Biomimicry Changemakers

October 21, 22, 23 (Granada, Spain)

or email us at biomimicrygranada@gmail.com

Discover Biomimicry

Join us in Granada for a transformative weekend as we venture into the unique and exciting world of biomimicry. During this 2.5 day course, we will explore nature and learn to look for design inspiration in her survival strategies and mechanisms.

Biomimicry is cross-disciplinary. As a methodology, it is especially relevant to those looking for new ways to approach technical innovation and sustainability. We welcome designers, engineers, business-people, biologists, policy-makers, educators, architects, entrepreneurs… learners of all backgrounds.

We will be aprentices of ecosystems, reconnecting with the principles of adaptation and resilience that make them function. Learn biomimicry and become part of a growing community of regeneration change agents.

What Will You Learn?

Get your feet on the ground with biomimicry thinking methods

Gain a systems-level understanding through inmersions in nature.

Perfect your skills with mini-challenges in a cross-disciplinary cohort.

Course Structure

The course is broken down into five 4-hour modules, with each module building on the earlier contents. By the end of the weekend participants will have a good understanding of biomimicry and how to use it.

1. Intro to biomimicry

We warm up with a series of classroom activities. During this first module, we will get to know each other, be inspired by the potential of biomimicry, discover beautiful biological models and take stock of the many lessons from Nature. By the end of the day, participants will understand what biomimicry is and why biomimicry is important. We close the first day dining together Granada’s historic quarter.

2. Observation in nature

Perhaps the most important tool in the biomimicry practitioner’s kit is the ability to see beyond the look-and-feel of the other organisms sharing Earth with us, and understand how and why these beings came about as they are. We will explore regional ecosystems and learn to associate function to the shapes, textures, smells, tastes, structures and behaviors of plant, animal and fungi life.

3. Applying biomimicry: local challenge

Your first chance to test your recently acquired biomimicry know-how will focus on the challenges faced in a business that is one of the underpinnings of the Andalusian economy. We will travel to an organic olive mill, where you will learn about olive farming and oil extraction. The role of soil and ecosystems in food production will be explored. Finally, the cohort will work together to come up with nature-inspired solutions to the real-world problems of the sector.

4. Biomimicry deep dive

We get down into nitty, gritty, detailed descriptions of the natural world and how we can learn from this endless complexity and wealth to foster innovation and progress in human society. You will learn how frame a design brief in natural terms and search the world’s broad library of organisms for solutions to your challenge. Examples and case studies will inspire excitement for the possibilities and underline the method.

5. Applying biomimicry: innovation

One strength of the field of biomimicry is the straightforward application as an innovation methodology. Participants will team up to approach a product brief using biomimicry design thinking. During this session you will discover organisms which face the same issues that you are trying to resolve, and that have come up with efficient, innovative and often surprising solutions. It will then be up to you to extrapolate these lessons into a prototype design, displaying the skills and understanding gained over the course of the weekend.

What is Biomimicry?

Through evolutionary R&D, nature has been generating solutions to the never-ending slew of challenges faced on our little blue marble since life emerged billions of years ago.

The field of biomimicry advocates looking to the millions of organisms present on Earth as a library of innovations that have been proven to work.

During this 2.5 day intensive course, you will learn the fundamentals for applying biomimicry thinking in your professional life. Become inspired by the complex simplicity of nature’s problem-solving, while reconnecting with the beauty of life’s genius.

You will develop skill sets for leveraging biological knowledge when redesigning our products, processes, systems and perspectives. Special focus will be given to applying biomimicry to design for a regenerative world.

Think like a biomimic!

What can a banana peel teach us about packaging?

Protect – Hard yet elastic waxy shell keeps fruit safe from the elements.
Transform – Easy opening, but only when it’s ripe and ready.
Communicate – Changes color from green to yellow as it becomes ready to eat.
Regenerate – Quickly biodegrades after use.

Welcome to Granada!

Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the south of Spain, Granada features historic magic from the Albayzín, the Arabic quarter, to the Alhambra, an astonishing palace complex whose Islamic decor and landscaped gardens are without peer in Europe.

Founded early in the 13th century, Granada was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors. A vibrant cultural city, with a history of idea exchange, collaboration and many centuries of influences which you can still experience today.

For those wanting to stay a little longer, from Granada you can be in the mountains, or at the beach in less than an hour.

Program organizers

Come learn biomimicry with

What is included?

Tuition cost of €650 covers 2.5 days of intensive biomimicry training, inclusive of facilities, teacher fees, educational materials, day trip transportation and entrance fees. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion.
Also included in the price are a welcome dinner on Friday night and group lunches on Saturday and Sunday.
Receive Up to 2 ECTS credits certified by Escuela Superior de Arte y Diseño de Andalucía (ESADA). Subject to acceptance by sending institution.
Expenses not covered by student tuition include other meals, lodging and travel to and from Granada. Please contact the course organizers if you require assistance organizing your stay.
To show our support, we are making a scholarship available to cover Biomimicry Changemakers costs for one Ukrainian student.

Register now

Or write to us at biomimicrygranada@gmail.com