Biomimicry Changemakers

How can nature guide us away from business-as-usual?

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 apprentices 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?

Crawl

Get your feet on the ground with biomimicry thinking methods

Walk

Gain a systems-level understanding through inmersions in nature.

Run

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

Program organizers

Biomimicry Changemakers is taught in English by professors and professionals from several European and North American institutions and companies. The organizing team has extensive experience teaching, applying and sharing biomimicry.

Laura

Dr. Laura Lee Stevens

Senior lecturer – Industrial Design Engineering at The Hague University of Applied Sciences

Theresa

Theresa Millard

Creative Director and cofounder – TrueNorth Collective, Cofounder – Biomimicry Granada

Ale

Alessandro Villa

Founder and CEO – Planet, Nature Inspired Technology

Asha

Asha Singhal

Lead designer and researcher – Hybrid Futures

Chris

Chris Gauthier

Come learn biomimicry with

Biomimicry Granada logo
Esada logo
Planet logo
The Hague logo
GREEN 2021 logo
Hybrid Futures logo

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.

Whiteboard

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.

Magnifying glass

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. ​

Olive branch

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.​

 

Text book

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.

Light bulb

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.

Granada Cityscape

Welcome to Granada!

Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the south of Spain, Granada features ancient 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.

Changemakers classes will be held at esada design school, a well-equipped official higher education institution housed in a beautiful historic building. Situated on a busy pedestrian street in downtown Granada, from esada many of Granada’s places of interest are accessible by foot or a short bus ride away.

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.

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?

Banana functions
  • 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.

What’s included

  • Biomimicry training, inclusive of facilities and teacher fees
  • Educational materials
  • One day trip (transportation and entrance fees)
  • Up to 2 ECTS credits certified by Escuela Superior de Arte y Diseño de Andalucía (subject to acceptance by sending institution)
  • Certificate upon completion
  • Welcome dinner on Friday night
  • Group lunches on Friday and Saturday
  • If you require assistance organizing your lodging, other meals and travel to and from Granada, don’t hesitate in contacting us.

Don’t take our word for it

2022 marks the first Changemakers cohort, but here is what people thought of our recent GREEN 2021 conference on biomimicry.

“High standard of organization – quality team, getting to the ripple effect. Thankful and grateful, flexibility. Feels like part of beautiful family. Respect was so high.”

Marieke

“My heart is full from this experience. Had not grasped all the planning, workshops, graphics, organization. Felt like we had known each other for a long time. Could not have had a better experience.”

Amaya

“Really nice! Was able to get some new ideas and methods for refreshing myself. Connecting people together… was really great to see the in-person interactions.”

Kathy

“Spending 18 months working alone from my garden shed had left me… doubting the value of my own ideas and questioning my right to be a part of the global biomimicry community. This weekend changed all that!”

Lucy

Ready to sign up?

The tuition cost of Biomimicry Changemakers is €650. Changemakers is an exclusive, personal, people-centric course with participation limited to 20 students. As such, a non-refundable initial deposit of €150 is required to reserve your spot. After registering, you will receive an email with the relevant banking details. The remaining fee is to be paid no later than October 10th. This portion is refundable on request up to 48 hours prior to the start of the event.

Please be aware that Changemakers classes officially run from 9:00 on Friday, October 21st to 14:30 on Sunday the 23rd. For additional suggestions regarding getting to and around Granada, please take a look at this guide. For any questions or concerns, kindly reach out to the email below.

To show our support, we are making available a scholarship to cover Biomimicry Changemakers costs for one Ukrainian student.

Or write to us at biomimicrygranada@gmail.com
Symbiosis