Using Nature As a Model to Solve Challenging Problems in Science and Engineering with Dr. Dayna Baumeister

carlyo — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:09:54 +0000

The ‘Nifty Fifty (times 4)’, a program of Science Spark, presented by InfoComm International, are a group of 200 noted science and engineering professionals who will fan out across the Washington, D.C. area in the 2014-2015 school year to speak about their work and careers at various middle and high schools.

Meet Nifty Fifty Speaker Dr. Dayna Baumeister

Co-founder and Keystone of Biomimicry 3.8, Dr. Dayna Baumeister's fascination with the natural world began with daily forays into the woods and mountains of Colorado, her childhood home. As an adult, nature has continued to inform her personal and professional endeavors.

Dayna received her Bachelors of Science degree in marine biology from New College in Sarasota, Florida. And after several years exploring the intricate relationships of coral reefs, she turned in her wetsuit and headed back to the mountains to later earn a Masters of Science degree in resource conservation, and her PhD in organismic biology and ecology from The University of Montana in Missoula, specializing in the dynamics of positive interactions among animal and plant life.

With a background in biology, a devotion to applied natural history, and a passion for sharing the wonders of nature with others, Dayna has worked in the field of biomimicry (an emerging field that emulates forms, processes and systems from nature to help solve complex human problems in science and engineering) with business partner Janine Benyus since 1998 as a business catalyst, educator, researcher, and design consultant. Together they founded the Biomimicry Guild consulting practice, The Biomimicry Institute 501c3, and most recently, Biomimicry 3.8, a B-Corp social enterprise and consulting firm that provides innovative solutions to clients and trains, certifies, and connects biomimicry professionals worldwide.

In her role as Biologist at the Design Table, Dayna has helped more than 100 companies consult the natural world for elegant and sustainable design solutions, including Nike, Interface, General Mills, Boeing, Herman-Miller, Kohler, Seventh Generation and Procter & Gamble. She is best known for her engaging ability to empower others to incorporate Life's Principles and strategies into every aspect of their work. Dayna is a natural systems thinker and brings a unique perspective to her work to help others see nature as model, measure, and mentor.

To meet the growing demand for more professional training, in 2008, Dayna designed and taught the world's first Biomimicry Professional Certification Program, a two-year master-level course for designers, business people, biologists, and engineers with participants from all over the globe, a program which she continues to teach. This program and the 8-month long Biomimicry Specialist program are soon to be offered through Arizona State University as a Master's degree and graduate certificate respectively.

Graduates of her programs are applying biomimicry in their work in different settings and places including Fortune 500 corporations, the EPA, South Africa, Germany, The Netherlands, Columbia, Chile, Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, among many other countries, as well as all over the U.S.

Dayna is a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, co-director of the newly forming Biomimicry Center at ASU, adjunct professor at Ontario College of Art and Design, and a Dana Meadows Fellow of the Sustainability Institute. In her spare time, she serves on the board of her local science museum, ExplorationWorks!

For more information click here.

carlyo Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:09

From Science & Aliens to Google Glasses- Welcome to the Realm of David Brin

carlyo — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 13:11:42 +0000

From Science & Aliens to Google Glasses- Welcome to the Realm of David Brin

Meet Nifty Fifty Speaker Dr. David Brin

Welcome to the world of David Brin -- a realm of science, adventure and imagination. David is a scientist, speaker, technical consultant and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. Many have been translated into more than twenty languages.

His books, commentaries and other works about timely topics -- ranging from space aliens, media and civilization to pop culture, science fiction, technology and Google Glasses-- are well-known.

The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions -- especially the controversial, thought-provoking ones -- he believes, helps drive society and defines who we are as humans.

"It's good we have a rambunctious society, filled with opinionated individualists," David comments. "Serenity is nice, but serenity alone never brought progress." He adds: "Hermits solved no problems. The adversarial process helps us to improve as individuals and as a culture. Criticism is the only known antidote to error -- elites shunned it and their evasion spread ruin across history. We do each other a favor (though not always appreciated) by helping find each others' delusions and mistakes."

His 1989 ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A 1998 movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was based on his novel, The Postman.

David -- who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Astrophysics from Caltech, and a Masters in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) -- serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI and nanotechnology, future/prediction and philanthropy.

Dr. Brins works reflect his concern over the challenges that our rapidly changing technological world poses. For example, his non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.

His resume also includes serving earlier in his career as a research engineer with Hughes Aircraft Research Labs and as managing editor of the Journal of the Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition.

As a public "scientist/futurist" David appears frequently on TV, including, most recently, on many episodes of "The Universe" and on the History Channel's best-watched show (ever) "Life After People." He also was a regular cast member on "The ArciTECHS."

David's style of traversing the boundaries between science and science fiction have made his books perennial favorites worldwide. For instance, his novel Kiln People has been called a book of ideas disguised as a fast-moving and fun noir detective story, set in a future when new technology enables people to physically be in more than two places at once.

His hardcover graphic novel The Life Eaters, another favorite, explored alternate outcomes to WWII, winning nominations and high praise in the nation that most loves and respects the graphic novel.

And David's science fictional Uplift Universe explores a future when humans genetically engineer higher animals like dolphins to become equal members of our civilization.
As a speaker and on television, David Brin shares unique insights -- serious and humorous -- about ways that changing technology may affect our future lives.

For more information, http://www.davidbrin.com/

carlyo Tue, 08/26/2014 - 09:11

STEM Education Program

Using Nature As a Model to Solve Challenging Problems in Science and Engineering with Dr. Dayna Baumeister

From Science & Aliens to Google Glasses- Welcome to the Realm of David Brin