Did you know that the inventor of Velcro fasteners got the idea from the burrs that stuck tenaciously to his dog’s fur? Or that the front of the Bullet Train in Japan is modeled after the beak of the kingfisher? Or that wind turbines modeled on the shape of a whale’s fin are more productive than other turbines?
Some of our best ideas come from nature.
To help teachers of all disciplines find ways to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, chemists, architects, city planners and more, Putnam/Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services is
offering a workshop on bio-inspired design or biomimicry. The workshop, to be held Tuesday, November 13th, will help teachers of all disciplines learn how to incorporate bio-design principles into their curriculum.
Presenters will include Tom McKeag, adjunct professor at California College of the Arts and University of California, Berkeley, and Dorna Schroeter, coordinator of
BOCES’ Center for Environmental Education.
By teaching students about biomimicry, teachers can connect the natural world, technology, human innovation and invention and sustainability – all relevant areas of study for today’s students.
During the one-day workshop, participants will receive an overview of ecological principles and how they are being applied in human design and industrial processes through the use of case studies. They will also investigate how
biomimicry can be used to reinforce STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts across all subject areas.
The course is being offered through a collaboration among the Hudson River Teacher Center, BioDreamMachine and BOCES’ Center for Environmental Education. For more
information, contact Joan Passaretti at 914-248-2345.
