Biomimicry Innovation Centre

Around 2500 years ago Confucius is quoted as saying words along the lines of “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” We're at a time of choice about our goals - we could chase targets that are achievable, and much better than those of a few years back, or we could head for what we know is needed for long term good outcomes, and sustainability.

Too often, at risk of criticism or failure, we adjust our goals to meet what's possible rather than stick with what we know makes sense. Tough sustainability goals are as good as impossible without a change to the way we think - trying to optimise the components of a system without regard to the bigger picture is as effective of pushing water uphill. With a change in the way we think, by viewing the systems that interact to create the reality we experience, things get simpler. Much simpler.

We know that there's a connection between quality of food, nutrition, behaviour, health cost, wellbeing, biodiversity and life expectancy. Addressed as individual disciplines, progress is tough at best; addresses systemically, the jigsaw falls into place. The best way of getting an insight into ways of thinking that enable this systems, whole problem thinking is through the discipline of biomimicry, where designers, planners leaders and problem solvers consciously bring nature's genius for 'finding a way' to the decision making table.

In this a new blog that will be running on the Kew website, we're welcoming ideas, stories, experiences and discussions from people who've worked with the BCI / Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Biomimicry Innovation Centre or know the folk involved through other connections. Most of all, we welcome ideas about how we can get to scale and build the ecological conditions where practice that's fit for the future can spread like wildfire. Join us. 

Biomimicry Innovation Centre

As a further spin-off from TYF EcoSapiens' work with the Do Project, three of the team from BCI: Biomimicry for Creative Innovation spent three highly productive hours ysterday working with the Innovation and Comms teams from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, generating ideas and opportunities to make the most of their enormous botanical knowledge and expertise through the creation of a Biomimicry Innovation Centre.

With a planned launch  in May 2010, our first steps will involve recruiting a dozen corporate clients who recognise that there are some fundamental new lessons to be learned about product design, business processes and maintaining an flexible, adaptive culture, if they're to weather the storms of price increases and resource constraints that are brewing on the horizon. Following the May launch, four businesses will be invited to 'dive deep' and explore the opportunities to increase reslience, sustainability and profitability by re-working aspects of their work, with inspiration from nature's genius.

To get a taster of the opportunities at Kew, come along to EcoBuild in London on 3 March to hear me and Michael Pawlyn speaking with Nigel Stansfield, Director of Product Innovation at Interface Flor, and ex Grimshaw architect and visionary Gerry Tate.

Drop me a line if your organisation might be interested in getting involved with the BCI / Kew project.