Biomimicry as a Framework for GreenSTEM Education Workshop

Biomimicry is an innovation method that looks to examples in nature to solve design and engineering problems. It is a rapidly growing field of study that is charting a course toward a more sustainable world and creating exciting new STEM career pathways. This hands-on workshop will focus on how educators can use biomimicry as a framework to teach standards-aligned content while empowering our next generation of problem-solvers to think differently about nature, engineering, and a sustainable future.

The workshop will begin with an interactive introduction to the topic of biomimicry, including both indoor and outdoor activities. Participants will then experience the biomimicry design process first hand as they work in small groups on a design challenge. Activities and resources from Biomimicry Institute’s Youth Design Challenge (YDC) will be featured. The YDC is a free project-based education program and annual competition that empowers students to design nature-inspired solutions to environmental problems. Independent program evaluations indicate that YDC participants experience positive impacts in their ability to define design problems, use scientific information to solve problems, think critically, collaborate with peers, and believe that they can make a positive difference in the world.

Learning Objectives

• Learn the fundamentals of biomimicry and begin to see the natural world in a whole new light.
• Learn effective strategies for sharing biomimicry with students and connecting nature with technology, engineering, and design
• Explore ways to connect the YDC to local concerns to create authentic challenge experiences.
• Discover how biomimicry and the YDC support Next Generation Science Standards and use a curriculum mapping tool to outline a biomimicry challenge unit