The success of the Biomimicry Chicago Network relies upon the energy and interests of our members. We are always looking for people who are interested - people who might want to simply learn more about biomimicry, who want to lend a hand to our growing movement, who are passionate about innovation and design, and/or who are invested in creating a regenerative future.

Please explore the current opportunities listed below for you or your organization to become involved in our network activities, from attending one-time events to joining on-going working groups. And of course, always feel free to reach out with questions and ideas!

- Rachel & Amy, Co-Leaders, Biomimicry Chicago

Current Opportunities

Deep Roots Initiative - Join us!

Join a fantastic network of individuals, companies and non-profits representing diverse experience and knowledge about our communities, local and regional initiatives, funding sources, potential case studies and biological genius. For all stakeholders we will provide opportunities to learn and practice the biomimicry methodology and make new connections within our multi-disciplinary network of passionate professionals.

Whether you are an individual or organization, we have several opportunities for you to contribute to our Deep Roots Initiative described below. If you are interested in any of these opportunities we will ask you to:

• • Meet with us to determine synergies
  • Let us list you as a member of our network so that other stakeholders can know to contact you with questions and opportunities
  • Contribute your expertise and skills in work creation
  • Tell your friends and colleagues about our effort!

  Advisory Board

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  Critical to the success of our Deep Roots Initiative is the guidance and participation by key stakeholders in the Chicago region. We are working with several prominent leaders in the built environment, and are continually seeking additional mentors to help guide, partner and contribute their expertise and skills.

  Advisory Board members are asked to participate in periodic calls, provide guidance on research and/or design resources, promote the initiative, make introductions to new stakeholders, identify opportunities for case studies, and identify potential sources of funding.

  Working Groups

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  As our initiative gets underway, Biomimicry Chicago will organize working groups to focus on one of the following categories which fit into our Deep Roots Initiative process:

  • Water
  • Carbon
  • Materials
  • Biodiversity
  • Community Connections
  • Biomimicry Educators
  • Stakeholder Engagement (including existing tool analysis)

  We are looking for volunteers willing to lead and/or participate in these working groups. All expertise and skills are needed including research, graphic design, design idea generation, facilitation, etc. as well as of course knowledge of our local ecology and species of all sizes. Content created by the working groups will contribute to development of our practitioner tool. For more about our working groups, click here.

  Case Studies

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  Biomimicry Chicago is working with current partners to apply the Deep Roots Initiative thinking in case studies. We are using case studies to help refine and prioritize our list of ecosystem functions, develop industry baseline metrics, identify data collection needs, and apply results to our ecosystem metric framework. Please reach out to us if you have a project - either existing or in development - you would be interested in including in our initiative to further develop our ideas.

  Tool Development

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  Biomimicry Chicago will work with stakeholders to develop a biomimicry tool that enables practical use to achieve innovative solutions during the design process at the project, municipal and regional scales. While this step in our process is further down the road, we are looking for people with relevant skills who might be interested in helping to guide the process. If you are interested in helping us develop the tool, please reach out to us.

  Gatherings with a Purpose

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  Beginning in Fall 2017, join our Biomimicry Chicago network once a month in a fun, design jam atmosphere! Play with nature-based design principles and generate design ideas for our built environment. Content created during these meetups will contribute to the build out of our tool. The more diverse the crowd, the better - you don't have to be an expert! Check out our Events page for more information.

  Who Should Join?

  The biomimicry innovation process thrives when diverse teams come together to solve a problem. Toward that end, we are bringing together a diverse group of architects, biologists, designers, engineers (civil, industrial...all kinds!), developers, municipal workers, landscape architects, contractors, students and educators, planners, and economists to explore how our built environment can learn from nature to foster a healthy life for all of its inhabitants.

Opportunities to Collaborate

We envision a variety of pathways to collaborate with others in our region. Let us know your needs, interests and ideas, and we'd be happy to meet to identify synergies. Potential avenues for collaboration include:

• • Partner with local universities and corporate sponsors to design and facilitate a series of events centered on local solutions to the Biomimicry Institute Global Design Challenge. This year’s challenge is centered on climate change with a $100,000 prize to the prototype round winner
  • Partner with local design firms and trade groups to develop solutions to a particular challenge, such as energy conservation, CO2 sequestration, water treatment, and resilience to climate change
  • Partner with local non-profits to assist them in solving a particular challenge they are facing using the biomimicry methodology
  • Partner with local institutions to investigate and showcase the local genius on a particular site
  • Partner with local research institutions to develop biomimicry-based educational tools and exhibits
  • Develop teaching materials for educators to share nature's lessons with the next generation
  • Commission artist projects that engage the public hearts and minds