Want to teach your students about biomimicry? Want to get them excited and engaged by looking to nature for inventive ideas? Join the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge! 

The Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge is a unique initiative by The Biomimicry Institute (TBI) to engage educators to teach biomimicry to their students through an annual contest. Students of primary and secondary school age can explore the fascinating world of biomimicry and learn the science and processes involved in design inspired by nature. The Challenge combines standard curriculum (science, technology, engineering, etc.) with rigorous and exciting experiential learning - a hallmark of TBI’s programs.

There are three categories for the 2011-2012 Challenge.

Ask the Planet (typical ages 4-8). Teachers who work within this category will submit a classroom activity they and their students created based on the award-winning curricula associated with the Ask The Planet CD.

Biology to Design (typical ages 9-13). Students who submit for this category must spend time gathering data outside on one particular species (or ecosystem) that they think could help solve a human design problem. Activities will involve natural history observation and enhance critical thinking.

Challenge to Biology (typical ages 14-18). For these students, the Challenge culminates in the building, designing and testing of prototypes of the students’ own inventions, original biological research, and activities to enhance critical thinking and creative design capacity.

 There are three easy steps you need to take to participate in the Challenge.

1. Read this web page as well as the Challenge rules.

2. Register to participate in the Challenge by February 1, 2012.

3. Submit your materials to us by April 1, 2012.

Background 

Who should participate?

  Young people ages 4-18 from:

• Around the world – it’s a global challenge

• Classrooms, schools, and districts

• Home schools

• Afterschool programs & clubs

• Camp programs

• Informal educational initiatives

• Just about anywhere!

What do participants do?

Explore the genius of nature! Then, use what you learn to imagine and create something useful. Ideas submitted must be original – not copied. Contest rules vary by age group. All submissions must be e-mailed from a sponsoring adult (an educator, parent, or guardian). See the contest rules and details for more information.

Educators/Parents:

Give your students and children the tools and confidence to learn from nature. In the process, you will nurture within them an excitement about the journey of discovery. Their interest in the world around them will expand through the lenses of natural history, biology, physics, chemistry, engineering, architecture, product design, city planning, and more. Ultimately, you will help empower these young people to increase their belief in themselves, heighten their respect for the natural world, and increase their ability and desire to make a positive difference.

What you need:

If you would like to deepen your understanding of Biomimicry before introducing the topic to your students, we invite you to take the On-line professional development course. 

Curriculum materials including in-depth case sudies in Biomimicry and methodology guidelines will be sent to registered participants (starting 10/1/11.) 

Important dates:

Registration is required by February 1, 2012.(But you can register and begin work with students at any time!)

Submissions must be received by April 1, 2012. This gives you time to learn about biomimicry, teach it to your students, and hold your own internal contests, etc. Submissions will be judged by an expert panel. Winners will be announced in May 2012.

If you have any questions about the contest that are not answered above, feel free to contact us. Just email Grace Decker (graced [at] biomimicrygroup.com) and put the letters “BYC” somewhere in your subject line.

Click here to read about the winners of the 2010-2011 Challenge from each category.