Climate volatility, political upheaval, and disruptive technologies are driving increased uncertainty in our lives, but across the planet life not only survives but can thrive in extreme conditions prone to dynamic fluctuations from volcano-forged forests to intertidal zone communities adapted to constant flux to desert creatures that have to optimize scarcity. Some species even thrive in extreme, deep-sea hydrothermal vents and inside the nuclear reactor of Chernobyl! In this session, we will engage in guided group activities to explore how such ecosystems can serve as teachers, inspiring us to find our own adaptive strategies for navigating extremes, including flexible niche-finding, frugality, opportunism, mutualism, and modularity. We’ll leave equipped with a nature-inspired toolkit for building resilience, clarity, and adaptability in turbulent times. Hosted by Biomimicry for Social Innovation (BSI), with: Gina LaMotte, BSI’s Managing Director, Capri LaRocca, BSI Engagement & Learning Lead; and Deb Bidwell, Science Advisor and Senior Instructor.