Townsville City Council (TCC), supporting a Centre of Excellence in Tropical Design (CETD - Sustainability & Innovation), in partnership with Department of Public Works (Project Services), Queensland EPA Sustainable Industries Division, TCC Townsville Have Your Say (THYS), Engineers Australia and proudly supported by Reef Check Australia and Embedded Environmental Energy Trust (eee$), is very pleased to be able to present the The Natural Edge Project 2006 Janine Benyus Australian National Tour to Townsville.

Janine Benyus - quoted as being one of the most imaginative people on the planet is an International Biomimicry expert and author. Biomimicry is learning to implement sustainable business practices and technologies from examples found in nature. Her trip to Townsville formed part of her National Innovation Inspired by Nature tour supported by The Natural Edge Project. Janine made a special trip to our city to participate in a series of events including a sustainability professional workshop, a presentation session for schools, and a free public event for the community.

The events included opportunities for business, industry, schools, community and anyone with an interest in sustainability to be involved.

• Australia Tour Details & Photos
  
  
• Innovation Inspired by Nature
  
  
• Naturally Inspired Design

 

There was three events Janine attended and spoke at on
Wednesday 17th May 2006.

Biomimicry is a new science that models nature's processes and implements its designs to provide solutions for sustainable development, industry and research initiatives. Biomimicry has already provided innovative ways of solving issues relating to energy engineering and waste re-use.

According to Janine, the more our world looks and functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not ours alone. Biomimics are looking to nature for specific advice: How will we grow our food? How will we harness energy? How will we make our materials? How will we keep ourselves healthy? How will we store what we learn? How will we conduct business without drawing down nature's capital?

Janine Benyus is a life sciences writer and author of six books, including her latest, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. In Biomimicry, she has synthesized work done by scientists, engineers and designers who are seeking sustainable solutions by mimicking nature's designs and processes. As a biologist, the question for Janine is not whether our technology is natural, but how well adapted it is to life on earth over the long term. Janine is a graduate of Rutgers University, New Jersey, with degrees in forestry and writing. Janine lectures widely on science topics and has worked as a backpacking guide and as a "translator" of science speak at several research labs. She now writes science books, teaches interpretive writing, lectures at the University of Montana, and works towards restoring and protecting wildlands. An educator at heart, she believes that the better people understand the genius of the natural world, the more they will want to protect it (from The Natural Edge Project www.tnep.net)

If you would like more information regarding this event, please contact Environmental Management Services on, phone: 4727 9520 or
email: sustainable@townsville.qld.gov.au.