JANINE BENYUS + PAUL HAWKEN

Janine Benyus is a biologist, author and innovation consultant. She may not have coined the term biomimicry, but she certainly popularized it in her 1997 book Biomimcry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. In Biomimicry, she names an emerging discipline that emulates nature’s designs and processes (e.g. solar cells that mimic leaves) to create a healthier, more sustainable planet. Since the book’s 1997 release, Janine has evolved the practice of biomimicry, speaking around the world about what we can learn from the genius that surrounds us. In 1998, Janine co-founded the world’s first bio-inspired consultancy, Biomimicry 3.8 (formerly the Biomimicry Guild_, brinign nature’s sustainble designs to 250+ clients including Boeing, Colgate-Palmolive, Nike, General Electric, Herman Miller, HOK Architects, IDEO, Interface, Natura, Procter and Gamble, Levi’s, Kohler and General Mills. In 2006, she co-founded the Biomimicry Institute, a non-profit dedicated to making biology a natural part of the design process. The Institute hosts annual global biomimicry design challenges on massive sustainability problems, mobilizing tens of thousands of students and practitioners through the Global Biomimicry Network to solve those challenges, and providing thos practitioners with the world’s most comprehensive biomimicry inspiration database, AskNature, to use as a starting place.

Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur and author. His work includes starting ecological businesses, writing about the impact of commerce on living systems and consulting with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology and environmental policy. Paul has founded several companies including some of the first natural food companies in the U.S. that relied solely on sustainable agricultural methods. He presently heads OneSun, Inc., an energy company focused on ultra low-cost solar based on green chemistry and biomimicry. Paul is found of the Natural Capital Institute, a research organisation located in Sausalito, California. The natural Capital Institute created Wiser Earth, an open source networking platform that links NGOs, foundations, business, government, social entrepreneurs, students, organizers, academics, activists, scientists and citizens concerned about the environment and social justice.