Thursday, March 27th
As the “Godmother of Biomimicry,” Janine Benyus famously put: Nature has 3.8 billion years of design intelligence under her belt. The growth of the field of Biomimicry, which explores how to draw from that incredibly sophisticated storehouse of nature’s genius, is one of the most compelling stories of the past two decades – and the story is really just beginning. Join global Biomimicry experts for an action-based workshop designed to advance the conversation. Engage with fellow creative minds in purposeful, facilitated discussions on key topics connected to the core tenants of Biomimicry. You’ll leave feeling empowered and part of a vibrant Biomimicry community, ready to bring transformative ideas to life and make a lasting impact. This session will also provide practical strategies and insights to help you apply Biomimicry principles to your own work. Hosted by Lily Urmann, Technical Manager of the AskNature Hive at the Biomimicry Institute. With Kat Sitnikova, Development Manager at the Biomimicry Institute, Camilo Garzón, the AskNature Program Director at the Biomimicry Institute; Andrew Howley, Chief Editor at the Biomimicry Institute.
Panel Change: Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of the Biomimicry Institute, will not be appearing.
March 27th | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm | Crystal Ballroom, Hotel Shattuck Plaza
Panelists
Kat Sitnikova
Development Manager | Biomimicry Institute
Kat Sitnikova is Development Manager at the Biomimicry Institute, where she engages that organization’s supporters in advancing nature-inspired solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges. She is also an organizer and facilitator working at the intersection of self-awareness, community connection and nature-centric design who lives in a land-based intentional community rooted in cooperative living, shared decision-making, authentic relating, and holistic land stewardship.
Andrew Howley
Chief Editor | Biomimicry Institute
Andrew Howley, Chief Editor for the Biomimicry Institute, works to connect scientists, innovators, and conservationists with the public as well as to make the vast collection of materials from the Biomimicry Institute on AskNature.org (an ever-growing body of stories of life’s innovations and adaptations) widely available to inspire and guide sustainable innovation. Previously, Andrew spent 11 years at the National Geographic Society, connecting audiences with explorers and grantees through websites, blogs, social media, live-streamed interviews, and events; and he developed online content at America Online in the late '90s.
Lily Urmann
Technical Manager | The AskNature Hive at the Biomimicry Institute
Lily Urmann, a naturalist and educator, is a Visiting Instructor at Pratt Institute where she teaches "Biology for Biomimicry,” the host of the podcast "Learning from Nature," and the Technical Manager of the AskNature Hive at the Biomimicry Institute. Her previous positions include: Commons Director at Biomimicry Frontiers; Director of Denver Programs for The Kiva Center; and Program Coordinator at the ASU Biomimicry Center. She has also led workshops at the Natural History Institute, the Desert Botanical Garden, the Highland Center for Natural History, the California and American Horticultural Society, and Girls Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (GESTEM).
Camilo Garzón
AskNature Program Director | Biomimicry Institute
Camilo Garzón, the AskNature Program Director at the Biomimicry Institute, leads its platform, program, and publication efforts to expand access to nature-inspired innovation. A writer, editor, filmmaker, multimedia producer, interdisciplinary artist, and award-winning poet, he works in a wide range of disciplines and media, including science storytelling on such varied topics as: culinary biodiversity; leaf-cutter ants; the decolonization of space exploration; and Colombian volcanology, paleontology, and Indigenous hydraulic systems. Camilo has collaborated with many organizations, including: SFMOMA, Scientific American, NPR, and the National Geographic Society. He is also the founder and Creative Director of Cuentero Productions.
Friday, March 28th
One of the most disconcerting trends in modern political discourse is the increasing feeling that there is no “shared reality” between opposing sides on many issues. In a world facing so many wicked problems simultaneously, the growing inability to collectively discern fact from fiction may represent the single greatest challenge we face. In many ways, our collective critical thinking skills have become more essential than ever to the success of every single movement, from climate action to social justice to human and environmental health. Now consider the monumental task teachers face, educating the next generation who are coming of age in this hall of mirrors moment. Join leading experts to discuss solutions and approaches to educating students and the general public regarding the current state of misinformation and “truthiness” in the rapidly shifting and expanding media environments we all inhabit. Hosted by longtime journalist and media critic Andrew Revkin in conversation with one of the world’s leading authorities on digital and media literacy education, founder of the Media Education Lab: Renee Hobbs.
March 28th | 4:45 pm to 6:00 pm | Goldman Theater, Brower Center
Panelists
Renee Hobbs
Researcher and Advocate for Media Literacy Education
Renee Hobbs, a researcher and advocate for media literacy education, is one of the nation's leading authorities on media literacy education and has authored 12 books and more than 300 scholarly and professional articles to advance the theory and practice of digital and media literacy education. She has helped train a generation of scholars and teachers on four continents through her scholarship and community service, receiving more than $7 million in grants to support research, education and community outreach efforts.
Andrew Revkin
Environmental Journalist and Webcast Host | Sustain What
Andrew Revkin, a prize-winning environmental journalist and webcast host who has spent 40 years scouring the world to identify and convey sustainable human pathways, began reporting on global warming in 1988 and never stopped, filing dispatches from the North Pole, Amazon rainforest, White House, etc., including 20 years at The New York Times (14 as a reporter and 6 as an online commentator through his groundbreaking Dot Earth blog). Andy also served on the Anthropocene Working Group and helped build programs, curricula and initiatives at the National Academy of Sciences, Columbia and Pace universities, and the National Geographic Society, where he has been a member of the Committee on Research and Exploration since 2018. Since 2020 he has run a live video webcast, Sustain What, that has reached several million viewers and included more than a thousand guests through some 550 episodes. Revkin is also a longtime performing songwriter and has written five books.
