DUE TO COVID-19, ALL CLASSES & PUBLIC PROGRAMING HAVE BEEN CANCELED AT THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN THROUGH APRIL 2020. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR RESCHEDULING UPDATES.

How does a cactus protect itself from the harsh desert sun? Why do tropical plants often have purple pigment in their leaves? Over the course of 3.8 billion years of life on earth, plants have developed ingenious strategies to survive and thrive. The design concept of biomimicry looks to these natural processes and structures, using them as inspiration to tackle our human challenges. In this interactive class you will learn the basics of biomimicry design, while exploring the “living library” outside that holds the secrets to success for all life on this planet.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Instructor: Danielle Trofe

Member Fee: $ 42.00 Nonmember Fee: $ 46.00

REGISTER HERE

ONLINE EVENT

Tuesday, April 21 2020 | 6:00PM - 9:00PM

Ever wonder what makes a peacock’s feathers so vibrant? Or how ants can communicate along complex scent trails to find and distribute food? How do honeybees use swarm logic to regulate the internal hive temperature? And why do trees and other plants grow in a similar and repeating patterns?

These questions encompass the underlying inquiry and ethos of biomimicry, looking to nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies to help solve our human challenges. Nature has 3.8 billion years of problem-solving experience, many of these problems are the same challenges humans are facing today. There’s a “living library” outside made up of animals, plants, microbes and fungi (to name a few) that hold the secrets to success for all life on this planet. Join us for an interactive workshop where you will learn not about, but from nature with a new lens of discovery.

In the this workshop, we’ll:

• examine the fundamentals of biomimicry by looking at nature’s form, function and ecosystems and then practice emulating these deep principles and patterns to create well-adapted human solutions that better "fit in" on our planet.

• learn the fundamentals of what makes biomimicry unique from other disciplines, including Life’s Principles a set of guidelines that all life must abide by to survive.

• learn about context pressures and enjoy getting to know the interconnectivity of ecosystems on a deeper level.

Don’t worry, no prior knowledge of biomimicry, science, design or nature is required. All age levels welcome. And we encourage you to come with questions and curiosity! Biomimicry is not all about solving a challenge, but equally values the enjoyment of learning more about nature’s genius and admiring her beauty in a new and inspiring way.

Buy Your Tickets Here

ONLINE EVENT

Join the Brooklyn tech community online this Thursday, April 9th @ 5PM for a very special, virtual, Make It in Brooklyn Meetup Happy Hour, which will feature a panel of three Brooklyn founders discussing the topic of biomimicry.

Each of the founders is working on fascinating ideas based on the principle of biomimicry, and will share their stories during a half-hour long discussion followed by Q&A with the online audience.

Although an in-person meetup is irreplaceable, we - like the rest of the world - are adapting to the temporary new normal by finding alternative means of connecting and creating community. In keeping with the spirit of our regular MIIB Meetups, and in support of our local businesses, the first 50 attendees will receive a gift card good for one beverage at a selection of our fine local establishments (locations to follow).

So, grab a cocktail and join in with your comments, questions, and discussion!

Panelists:

• Sissi Liu, founder and CEO of Metalmark, studies the iridescence, water resistance, and ultra-lightness of butterfly wings to inform the company’s design of an air purification system that converts toxic and odor-causing fumes into benign ones.

• Danielle Trofe, founder and CEO of Danielle Trofe Designs, studies the use of mycelium, or mushroom fiber, to create beautiful lamps.

• Pietro Filardo, the founder and CEO of Pliant Energy Systems, studied the movement of rays in the ocean as a marine biologist, and is applying that knowledge to the creation of submersibles that move through water more efficiently.

Free! Register

How does nature design circular systems or build collaboratively with interconnectivity? How does nature respond to change or recover from a disturbance? Learn not just about, but from nature’s genius in order to solve some of the planet’s most pressing challenges.

Mycelium (the roots of mushrooms) may very well be one of the most intelligent, adaptable, and resilient organisms on the planet! Not only is it nature’s recycler and communication network, but it’s also the largest organism on earth! Come explore these fascinating fungi with us as we learn about its many functions and characteristics. Find out how “nature’s glue” holds the key to making many industries more sustainable.

Get ready to get your hands dirty—literally!—as we walk you through the process of growing your own planter using mycelium. You’ll make a planter using mushroom materials and take it home to watch it grow. In a few days, you can start using the planter for indoor succulents.

This workshop is hosted by Danielle Trofe, a biodesigner who grew the world’s first commercial lighting collection.

This is a beginner workshop, no prior experience in design required to participate. This program is suitable for adults and children ages 5 and up.

WORKSHOP PROGRAM HOURS

Ongoing, 11 – 3 p.m.

Ground Floor, Lecture Room

For more information visit Cooper Hewitt’s Event page

Mycelium (the roots of mushrooms) may very well be one of the most intelligent, adaptable, and resilient organisms on the planet! Not only is it nature’s recycler and communication network, but it’s also the largest organism on earth! Come explore these fascinating fungi with us as we learn about its many functions and characteristics. Find out how “nature’s glue” holds the key to making many industries more sustainable.

Get ready to get your hands dirty—literally!—as we walk you through the process of growing your own planter using mycelium. You’ll make a planter using mushroom materials and take it home to watch it grow. In a few days, you can start using the planter for indoor succulents.

This workshop is hosted by Danielle Trofe, a biodesigner who grew the world’s first commercial lighting collection.

This is a beginner workshop, no prior experience in design required to participate. This program is suitable for adults and children ages 5 and up.

For more information visit the event page at Cooper Hewitt

How does a cactus protect itself from the harsh desert sun? Why do tropical plants often have purple pigment in their leaves? Over the course of 3.8 billion years of life on earth, plants have developed ingenious strategies to survive and thrive. The design concept of biomimicry looks to these natural processes and structures, using them as inspiration to tackle our human challenges. In this interactive class you will learn the basics of biomimicry design, while exploring the “living library” outside that holds the secrets to success for all life on this planet.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Instructor: Danielle Trofe

Member Fee:$ 42.00Nonmember Fee:$ 46.00

REGISTER HERE

Ever wonder what makes a peacock’s feathers so vibrant? Or how ants can communicate along complex scent trails to find and distribute food? How do honeybees use swarm logic to regulate the internal hive temperature? And why do trees and other plants grow in a similar and repeating patterns?

These questions encompass the underlying inquiry and ethos of biomimicry, looking to nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies to help solve our human challenges. Nature has 3.8 billion years of problem-solving experience, many of these problems are the same challenges humans are facing today. There’s a “living library” outside made up of animals, plants, microbes and fungi (to name a few) that hold the secrets to success for all life on this planet. Join us for an interactive workshop where you will learn not about, but from nature with a new lens of discovery.

In the first part of the workshop, we’ll meet at Genspace to:

• examine the fundamentals of biomimicry by looking at nature’s form, function and ecosystems and then practice emulating these deep principles and patterns to create well-adapted human solutions that better "fit in" on our planet.

• learn the fundamentals of what makes biomimicry unique from other disciplines, including Life’s Principles a set of guidelines that all life must abide by to survive.

Then we’ll head to the Green-Wood Cemetery for a BYO picnic lunch and an immersive experience to hone your observation skills. There you will learn about context pressures and enjoy getting to know the interconnectivity of ecosystems on a deeper level, while practicing biomimicry in the field, so bring a human design challenge of interest!

Don’t worry, no prior knowledge of biomimicry, science, design or nature is required. All age levels welcome. And we encourage you to come with questions and curiosity! Biomimicry is not all about solving a challenge, but equally values the enjoyment of learning more about nature’s genius and admiring her beauty in a new and inspiring way.

Register to Attend Here

Schedule: 10am-12pm Introduction to Biomimicry at Genspace; 12pm-1pm Picnic Lunch at Green-Wood; 1pm-3pm Biomimicry Practice at Green-Wood

Calling all citizen scientists... join us for a stroll through one of Brooklyn's best-kept secrets, Green-Wood Cemetery! A bioblitz is a communal effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible. We will spend an hour documenting the wildlife found in the cemetery using the iNaturalist app.

This event is part of the City Nature Challenge. Learn more about the Challenge and check out our other related events here.

RSVP for the BioBlitz here

The next Salon at Forest, the 26th of the series, welcomes Huy Bui, Megan Offner, and Danielle Trofe to discuss sustainability design.

Tuesday, April 16th | 6:30pm-9pm,

1027 Grand Street, C103, Brooklyn, NY

RSVP here.

Every month, we invite presenters to our studio to share their own creative journeys: why they do what they do, what motivates them, the struggles they face and how they overcome them. This series, which began in early 2017 has had over 50 presenters from wide-ranging disciplines including ceramics, glass, painting, sculpture, poetry, neuroscience, taxidermy, live action role playing, textiles, dance, film, and set design. Come join us for a conversation.