Celebrate with us the opening of Biomimicry New England's exhibit, Innovations Inspired by Nature, at Fanueil Hall at 4:30pm on Friday 19 August.

The program will include a short introduction about the exhibition by Biomimicry New England President, Peter Lawrence, followed by an introduction of two of the exhibit companies by the President and Co-founder of NBD Nano, Deckard Sorensen and Stefan Marshall-Goebel, General Manager, Arnold Glas, manufacturer of Ornilux ‘Bird Glass.’

The celebration will continue at a local tavern after 5:30 for drinks & discussion.

resentation and interview with M. Sanjayan, Executive Vice President and Senior Scientist, Conservation International

We live in the Anthropocene, the age of humans, and not since cyanobacteria transformed Earth’s early atmosphere has one species–Homo sapiens–had such an outsized influence on the diversity of life on the planet. Saving nature in the human age is a challenging proposition, but perhaps a more relevant question might be how nature can save humankind. In an epic journey across 24 countries accompanied by a film crew from PBS and National Geographic, Sanjayan compiled awe-inspiring stories that illuminate the inextricable link between the environment and human beings. In this program, he will discuss his journey and the basic truth it revealed: that saving nature is really about saving ourselves.

Free and open to the public.

Free event parking available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

Presented in collaboration with the Harvard College Conservation Society

On this two-hour walking tour, learn how biomimicry can help address local climate change effects in Boston Harbor, including sea level rise, storm surges, and flooding. Anamarija (co-founder Biomimicry New England) and her students will share examples from the Green Harbors Project and Biomimicry LivingLabs: a classroom that empowers students to participate in the development and demonstration of solutions for local issues in harbors.

The tour will pause at several possible locations for future biomimicry LivingLabs as we explore the intersection of the Charles and Mystic Rivers. You will learn about the harbor's improved health as we pass by Deer Island, the second largest waste water treatment plant in the world. The tour will end at Savin Hill Cove, the site of the first Biomimicry LivingLabs and is funded by the Schmidt Family Foundation.

What do you think nature would do to improve conditions in urban harbors?

Public lecture with Brian D. Farrell, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University

Can the reconciliation of the arts and sciences inform our understanding of nature and our place in it? Drawing on neurobiological, paleontological, and genetics research, philosophical studies of music and other arts, and our current understanding of the influence of nature on human health, Brian Farrell will suggest an evolutionary framework for integrating these fields, offering new perspectives on human culture and humanity’s role in fostering a productive and sustainable future.

Free and open to the public.

Free event parking available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

Learn more at http://hmsc.harvard.edu/event/biology-culture-bridging-art-and-science

Join other informal education professionals to explore biomimicry, the process of emulating nature’s strategies. For 3.8 billion years plants, animals, and microbes have been adapting to complex problems through evolution. Using an approach to innovation that seeks inspiration from nature, biomimicry often looks to the ocean and marine organisms. You are invited to join in exploring this fascinating topic and its potential to engage a wide range of audiences through informal education. 

This workshop will be an opportunity to learn how biomimicry can address some of the top environmental issues and how we can inspire a new group of innovators to look to nature to create sustainable solutions. Designed for and by informal educators, the workshop will include an introduction to biomimicry and specific ways to introduce biomimicry. This workshop is offered by the New England Aquarium and Biomimicry New England.

Speakers include: Peter Lawrence, President & Co-founder, Biomimicry New England; Kate Anderson, Education Director, Beyond Benign; Melita Morales, EPSCoR/STEAM Communication & Engagement Coordinator, Rhode Island School of Design; Mike Smith, Program Director, New England Science & Sailing; Rebekah Stendahl, Program Manager, New England Aquarium.

Registration is required (and free)