Accelerating Biomimicry Education and EntrepreneurshipBIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2015-16

PICTURE THIS:

AGE 8: You and your classmates are on a biomimicry walk where you are asked by your teacher, “How does nature stay warm?” You look down and notice a fuzzy down bird feather. Something clicks as you realize that the natural world does nearly everything our man-made world does.

AGE 19: You’re in college and, having now spent years practicing the process of learning from nature instead of only about nature, you decide to enter the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge. You and your team develop a forest-inspired way of redesigning a city block.

AGE 31: You’re an engineer and, because of your skill in biomimicry, you were chosen to lead an innovation team. When you can’t get outside, your tool of choice is AskNature, replete with 3D models of bird bones and feathers, termite mounds, and a few thousand other natural organisms. Your clients are thrilled because biomimetic inventing yields more radical, more beautiful, more hopeful solutions than what is being replaced. You feel your eight year-old self would be quite proud.

These experiences are happening by the hundreds, but they could be happening by the hundreds of thousands, or even millions. How different would our world be if education changed at this scale? Every student would graduate high school “bio-lingual.” Budding entrepreneurs would know how to ask nature for design guidance and have wide-ranging support to bring their innovations to market. Industry would change because employees would have a shared vision of a circular economy that functions like a healthy forest.

This is the future that we’re working towards. Through our platforms - youth education, the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, and AskNature.org - we’re creating a critical mass of new thinkers, confident in how to translate nature’s design principles to create a better world.

“ Biomimicry is no longer just a new way to see and value nature, it is also our path to survival.” - Janine Benyus

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SUPPORTING NATURE-INSPIRED ENTREPRENEURS WORLDWIDE

From humble beginnings as a project-based learning exercise for select university partners, the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge has grown into an international design competition and entrepreneur accelerator program that crowdsources nature-inspired solutions and helps bring them to markets where they are needed the most. With the support of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the Challenge is not only a platform for students and professionals to directly apply biomimicry solutions to sustainability challenges such as climate change and food system issues, but a pathway for biomimicry entrepreneurs to receive support to bring their innovations to life.

Biomimicry Global Design Challenge

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Design Challenge 2011- PRESENT

1,829PARTICIPANTS

6DESIGN CHALLENGES*

38BIOMIMICRY GLOBAL NETWORKS (36 regional and two professional) amplify the Challenge’s reach.

over

350MENTORS AND ADVISORS

44COUNTRIES

360SUBMISSIONS

$249,750IN PRIZE MONEY AWARDED SINCE 2011

BIOMIMICRY ACCELERATOR (2015-2016)

13 Accelerator teams

From 9 countries

5 businesses launched

3 active and pending patents

$100,000 Ray of Hope TM grand prize

117 press mentions

OUTCOMES “The Challenge gives you an opportunity to work with people that believe in your project. Plus, the feedback you get from the people involved in the Challenge helps you to keep going forward. [The Challenge is] a real test of your abilities, and you learn to explain to others why you believe in what you are doing.”

CAMILA HERNÁNDEZ (CHILE), BIONURSE TEAM LEADER, WINNER OF THE 2016 RAY OF HOPE PRIZE™.

“The Challenge helped me to realize what I want to do in my future life. Professionally, before the BGDC, I had been a designer and educator that was more theoretically based. Over the last year, I learned so many new skills. In September 2015, I did not even know what the word “pitch” meant. Now we are presenting our project in front of famous investors.”

ZUZANA TONČÍKOVÁ (SLOVAKIA), BIOCULTIVATOR TEAM LEADER, 2015-16 BIOMIMICRY ACCELERATOR

BIOMIMICRY GLOBAL DESIGN CHALLENGE

14%

14% of respondents continued to evolve their submissions, pursuing thesis studies, prototypes and field tests, partnerships, patents, venture capital, and market launch.

50%

50% of participants continued working with biomimicry after graduation.

*From 2008-2010, TBI ran two affiliate university student-only challenges.

2015-2016 HIGHLIGHT

In October 2016, the first $100,000 Ray C. Anderson Foundation Ray of Hope Prize™ was awarded to BioNurse, a team from CERES, Valparaíso’s Regional Center for Fruit and Vegetable Innovation in Chile. By mimicking the way hardy “nurse” plants establish themselves in degraded soils and pave the way for new plant species to grow, the team created a way to grow and protect new plants and ensure that the soil can be regenerated to feed our world’s growing population.

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AskNature A PORTAL FOR BIOMIMICRY DISCOVERY

AskNature is the most comprehensive and accessible online catalog of nature’s solutions to human design challenges. In the fall of 2016, the Institute released a brand-new version of AskNature, with an improved navigation and search experience that is fast, mobile friendly, and contains new tools that make it easy for members to collect, create, and share content. This upgrade paves the way for more nature-based design strategies, greater collaborative power among biomimics, and thousands of innovative ideas, just waiting to be discovered.

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“Often students think that everything has been invented already and that the way we do things is the only way. AskNature shows [students] that they can be tomorrow’s innovators, that innovation can be done sustainably, creatively, and beautifully, and that you can feel good about a product, a process, a system. AskNature shows us how to be a partner with nature rather than an owner of nature.”

MARJAN EGGERMONT, ASSOCIATE DEAN (STUDENT AFFAIRS), SCHULICH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

“AskNature is a great tool for learning, for ideation, and for fulfilling personal curiosities. These are the benefits that are seen at first glance; however, the most valuable thing that it does when people use it is that it makes you aware of how everything is connected. Not only does it show you how we should be working together with nature, but also how we can learn to work better with each other.”

JORGE ZAPOTE, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

75,000+SESSIONS EACH YEAR

60,000UNIQUE VISITORS EACH MONTH

12.8 MILLIONPAGE VIEWS SINCE 2008

55%VISITS FROM OUTSIDE USA

30,000+REGISTERED USERS

900+ NEW ACCOUNTS CREATED EACH MONTH

1,682BIOLOGICAL STRATEGIES

199INSPIRED IDEAS/PRODUCTS

15COLLECTIONS

97EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

LAUNCHED IN 2008

AskNature

75+ CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS

OVER 1150 VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR CONTENT

DEVELOPMENT

ASKNATURE

2015-2016 HIGHLIGHT

In fall 2016, AskNature.org launched its most significant update since its creation in 2008. Now, AskNature not only offers a smoother search and navigation experience, but all registered users can now create and share life’s strategy pages with the world, connect with the AskNature community, curate collections, create groups, and contribute new ideas.

Figures reflect status as of February 2017

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CREATING A NEW GENERATION OF NATURE-INSPIRED INNOVATORS

Education is at the root of everything we do at the Biomimicry Institute. Our education initiatives amplify the impacts of AskNature and the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge by nurturing a continuum of nature-inspired innovators and educators who see that a better world is possible, and have the knowledge and capacity to bring it forth. The cornerstone of this effort is our Biomimicry Education Network, a thriving community of youth and university educators sharing and implementing biomimicry lessons and programs. We also partner with leaders in youth education to create new biomimicry-based science curricula and accelerate the adoption of biomimicry in STEM education, provide a robust how-to “Toolbox” of resources to support Challenge participants, and offer one-of-a-kind business training in the Biomimicry Accelerator program.

Biomimicry Education

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“Biomimicry opens our eyes to the reality that many human challenges have a correlation in nature, and natural organisms have already come up with solutions that are far more elegant and sophisticated than our own could ever be. This way of thinking that has humans working with, instead of against, nature, is an exciting, empowering, and ever-adaptable tool for students to use as they set about creating a future for themselves, no matter which field they enter.”

JENJI HENSON, CHIEF OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, ECORISE YOUTH INNOVATIONS

“The process or journey of engaging in biomimicry, creative problem solving, and teamwork will be invaluable to students as they move forward in life and careers. It will help them learn to live in the “fuzzy zone” of uncertainty with more comfort, and this can open up space for truly creative thought processes.”

DOROTHY GINNETT, SCIENCE CURRICULUM SPECIALIST AND GIFTED & TALENTED EDUCATION COORDINATOR, COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AGENCY #5, PORTAGE, WISCONSIN

Biomimicry Education

The Vision

Every student graduates high school “bio-lingual” - able to see and appreciate the sustainable technology in nature.

HELPING EDUCATORS GET THEIR STUDENTS TO “THINK OUTSIDE”• Biomimicry curricula and training in

partnership with national and regional education organizations.

• Resources, lesson plans, professional development, and education summits.

• The Biomimicry Education Network (5,500 members and growing).

CREATING PLATFORMS TO SUPPORT LEARNERS OF ALL AGES• AskNature.org, which includes a

new resource library for educators and learners.

• The Biomimicry Toolbox, an online quick-start guide to biomimicry.

SUPPORTING EMERGING BIOMIMICRY INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS • The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge,

a project-based learning tool and innovation driver.

• The Biomimicry Accelerator, a program that helps bring biomimetic innovations to market.

BIOMIMICRY EDUCATION

How We’re Making it Happen

2015-2016 HIGHLIGHT

In 2016, the Institute collaborated with EcoRise Youth Innovations to author a biomimicry-based high school science curriculum that reinforces core content in chemistry, physics, and biology. An additional design challenge module prepares students to enter the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge or pursue a similar project in which they apply biomimicry to a design problem of their choosing.

K-12

Future innovators and entrepreneurs have the resources and knowledge they need to incorporate biomimicry into their chosen careers.

UNIVERSITY

Professionals from all fields are able to create solutions to pervasive sustainability problems by looking to nature as a guide.

PROFESSIONAL

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43% Education & Design Challenges

2015 Financials

2016 FinancialsREVENUE BY SOURCE 2016

Grants 68%

Corporate Giving 0%

Major Donors 13%

Individual Supporters 3%

Sponsorships 3%

Earned Income 12%

EXPENSE BY PROJECT

7% Admin & Finance

18% Fundraising

9% Communications & Outreach

2% Biomimicry Global Networks

21% AskNature

REVENUE BY SOURCE 2015

Grants 76%

Corporate Giving 1%

Major Donors 8%

Individual Supporters 2%

Sponsorships 2%

Earned Income 10%

Financials & Support

43% Education & Design Challenges

EXPENSE BY PROJECT

6% Admin & Finance

12% Fundraising

10% Communications & Outreach

9% Biomimicry Global Networks

20% AskNature

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FOUNDATIONSKendeda FundLeonardo Di Caprio FoundationNew Visions FoundationRay C. Anderson Foundation

CORPORATE SPONSORSAmerican Institute of Architects, AustinDavid Oakey DesignsInternational Living Future InstituteTerrapin Bright Green, LLC

THESE CORPORATE CITIZENS GENEROUSLY MATCHED DONATIONS FROM THEIR EMPLOYEESAmazon SmileBill and Melinda Gates Foundation Clorox GivingGoodshopGoogleMontana State Employees Combined Giving CampaignNetwork for GoodPfizerSalesforce.orgThe Benevity Community Impact Fund

IN-KIND SERVICES OR DONATIONSGoPro, Inc. Johnnie GrahamLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TXLorenne GavishMicrosoft Donation ProgramNumi Teas

BIOMIMICS ($25K+)AnonymousSocial Relations of Knowledge InstituteTom and Johanna Baruch

INNOVATORS ($10K - $24,999)Daniel BenyusIbrahim HusseiniKatherine Collins, Honeybee FundMargaret & John HaleyTBI Board

MENTORS ($5K - $9,999)Armonia, LLCArnold H. ZidellChris GarvinDr. Loring & Rev. Louise ConantNathalie Salles, Abundant StrategiesTracy GaryWill & Julie Parish

EARLY ADOPTERS ($1K - $4,999)Annie BerdyCarole KainCornelia W Bonnie Revocable TrustCynthia TravisDavid & Dr. Sharman AltshulerEric & Maria WilsonFullerton Family FoundationHarriett CrosbyLear Family FoundationLynn LumbardNatasha GiraudieNina RattnerPatricia WaterstonRussell & Suki MunsellSusan Nora ClarkVictoria & Sanford Keziah

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTERS ($5-$999)Allah JordanAng Kian SengAngela KlinefelterAnne BeswickAnne ChampagneBeth Rattner Bhardwaj VelamakanniBillie BestBoaz YarizBob BechtoldBob DengateBob JaffeBonita Hay

Thank you to our supporters

Bonnie DahanBrenda YoungCarol ThalerCarole KainCharissa SnijdersChina GCI DavenportColin WorfConstance HamiltonCourteny MorehouseCurt McNamaraDan & Lecia McMinnDana Beth LobellDaniel SchneiderDarja DubravcicDavid & Amy Coffman PhillipsDavid FoxDiana LeeDonald BrownDorna SchroeterDouglas NorgordElizabeth Collins-AdamsElizabeth ParkerErin ConnellyEthan SmithGina LaMotteHarry UvegiHelen HwangHelen MoulisHolly HarlanIgnacio OsioInge BuchananJacques ChiraziJames Mcrae

Janine Jordan in honor of Ken JordanJeff BrodineJennifer CooperJennifer WoodJill LanierJoep TrappenburgJohn and Amy WarnerJohn WebbJon-Michael DeldinJosiel RodriguesJudith LeitchJustine ZangKaren AllenKaren CoweKaren SperlingKathy Zarsky, Holos CollaborativeKatrina ZavalneyKezios Family FundKian Seng AngKristen CalloriLauren BrittonLinda HebertLinda MilksLinda PaisleyLisa FengLucy LarkinsLynn LumbardMaia NilssonMargo StreetMarian RingMary HanselMary WaldnerMasoud FarhangMatthew Sluder

McCall LangfordMegan SchuknechtMerrill BittnerMichele SternMichelle GarciaMikhail DavisMorton Institute for New DimensionsNicholas Naylor-LeylandOya SimpsonPatricia ConwayPaul MackenziePaula AlexanderPaula FujiwaraPhillip HimovitzRachel MajorRandall and Susan AnwayRenata AlibertiRichard AustinRichard WeinmanRobert BechtoldRonald BrownSahar MauriceSandra GilchristSara NicholsSarna SalzmanScott MattoonSean WilliamsSharon RitterSimone MeeksStephanie WatsonSteven SaarmanSusan AnwaySusan CoxSusan Kirsch

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Tamara BellandTim GreiserToby HerzlichTom FlynnTom UhrWilliam BurdetteWilliam Lawson

2015-2016 BOARD MEMBERSKamal El-Wattar, current PresidentAhmed Rahim, current Vice PresidentAlex O’Cinneide, current TreasurerDiana Lee, current SecretaryJanine Benyus, Director EmeritusAshok Goel, former PresidentCynthia Hester, former PresidentJohn ElkingtonNatasha GiraudieStefan HeckDavid OakeyDuke Stump

TBI MEMBERSAdele HoskenAlexandra RalevskiAmy LoveAndres BatistaAnna DeacAnne RendaAnnick RomainAntonio Lozano DomenechAstrid DesLandesBrian DoughertyCharles Graham EvansCheryl Spector

Curt McNamaraDavid EvenskiDavid FoxDayna BaumeisterDorna SchroeterDouglas StuderElizabeth ComeauxEmilia DraminskaEvelyne StanoviciFani HansenGinny WheelerGiovanni TedeschiGiselle CarrGreg CarterHakan PeterssonHarry UvegiInge BuchananJane TonerJeff WangJenna CederbergJody BrownJoe KeenanJohn CoxJojo K. KasinathanJordan ByrdJudith MitchellKai CostantiniKathleen ZarskyKerstin KapitzkeLarry StambaughLisa BaffiMarsha HamacherMary WagnerMatthew GrocoffMihalis HalkidesMonir AhmedNicholas FrancoNicolas SaarmanPaul BrennanPeggy RebolRichard Altherr

Sara JacoboviciShanti BalaramanSheila Maria RodriguezStanley GeorgeStephanie BoucherStephanie WelterStoyan FaldijiyskiSusan SullivanTabitha Jayne Thomas SchuenemanWilliam RedingYafa LammYeshua Adonai

VOLUNTEERSAdiel GavishAdina DaarAlexander MandelAli SolomonAmanda RavenhillAmber WierckAnjan PrakashAnna Lappe Ayda UrazBrian DoughertyCarlos Sáez CometCarlos FiorentinoCaroline KreiserChristopher AllenCindy GilbertClaire JanischColin ManghamColleen MahoneyCurt McNamaraDaniel StrengDawn DanbyDenise DeLucaDenny RoyalDimitri DeheynDimitri SmirnoffDoug Paige

Emily SadighErin RovaloEvan GreenbergFaye YoshiharaGamelihle SibandaGayle DeBruynGwillem MosedaleHazel HendersonHilary StaplesHolly HarlanHugo AraugoJaco AppelmanJane TonerJanine Benyus Jay HarmanJeff Birkby Jessica TravisJim Corlett John Crockett John LanierJosh StackJP KloningerJulia ChiangKamal El-WattarKatherine Collins Kathy Zarsky Kristin WolfKuowei ChiuLeon WangLesal RuskeyLisa BaffiLuisa SchultzMargo FarnsworthMarjan EggermontMark JuergensenMark DorfmanMark KerbelMary HanselMelissa MooreMike GabrielMonica Cohen

Natalie ChenNuna TealOscar Jimenez SalvadorPatrick BaumannPaulina LisPeggy ChuPeter BoyerPeter SlaughPhilip LingPuja BatraRachel HahsRaul deVillafrancaRavi BajajRebecca SappenfieldRichard James MacCowanRobert BensonRobert SuarezRosibel OchoaSam GochmanSamuel MillerSara ElSayedSaskia van den MuijsebergScott FosselStefanie Atkinson SchwartzStuart FramStuart ValentineTeo GrossmanTheresa MillardThomas RossiTim McGeeTimothy Shaw Travis HeneveldUdi LazimyVictoria KamslerVikram ShyamWalter Kanzler Will RosenzweigZem Joaquin

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