The Natural Edge Project The Natural Advantage of Nations Whole System Design Factor 5 Cents and Sustainability




"It's (The Natural Advantage of Nations) a book of affirmation when despair hits."
Janine M. Benyus

"BIOMIMICRY is one of those rare hopeful notes in the modern chorus of environmental warnings. Janine offers a radical alternative to today’s industrial model of progress – an elegant survival strategy drawn from a better understanding of those natural systems on which we are still totally dependent. Perhaps the best thing about this “quest for innovations inspired by nature” is that it is more than just a theory. It is already underway."
Jonathon Porritt, Chairman, Chair of the UK Prime Minister’s Sustainable Development Commission

"(Biomimicry) Introduces a concept worthy of wide exploration in a world dazzled by the industrial artifacts around us... Over the millions of years, nature's life forms through natural selection have had to live with the constraints of the entropy law on a solar budget."
Wes Jackson, The Land Institute

"Janine Benyus is obsessed with patterns, connections, and the beauty of life, intertwined. Biomimicry focuses on finding structures, processes, strategies, and mechanisms that nature has been using for a billion years, that we can emulate and use in modern design.”
Terry Tempest Williams, Author

"Janine Benyus is without question the world's most imaginative person in the field of environmental development and restoration. To be with her indoors is to be transported; to spend time outdoors with Janine is like walking through the looking glass of extraordinary beauty and landing in a meadow of possibilities about our world. Time spent with Janine is a transmission of hope about what we can learn from and be within nature, a species of hope that will follow you for the rest of your life. Time spent with Janine is a transmission of hope about what we can learn from and be within nature, a species of hope that will follow you for the rest of your life."
Paul Hawken, Natural Capital Institute

"Janine Benyus has been instrumental in interpreting the principles of biomimicry to the designers and product developers at Patagonia. She has been inspirational, practical, and engaging in helping us incorporate our respect for the natural world into the creation of our products."
Yvon Chouinard, co-founder, Patagonia

(Nineteen HOK leaders joined environmental pioneers Janine Benyus and Paul Hawken for a three-day workshop on biomimicry and natural capitalism to discuss how these concepts might apply in HOK's everyday work.) "It was a pivotal event for all HOK attendees," said HOK President Bill Valentine. "We were immersed in a sea of information, strategies, science and insight. We left with a strong commitment for a far wider discovery and education of these ideas across the firm."
HOK President Bill Valentine


The Biomimicry Guild
Biomimicry Guild Database


  The Next Wave of Innovation Speaker Series 

Photo Gallery for the Janine Benyus Australian Tour 2006

 

Charlie Hargroves, Nick Palousis, Cheryl Paten, Janine Benyus,

Catherine Bragdon, Michael Smith and Maurice Reilly.

After the National Australia Bank Address at the National Press Club

broadcast live on the ABC on the 24th of May 2006.

Janine talking with Rod Welford (MP

Minister for Education and Minister for

the Arts) and Dr John Cole (Executive Director  Queensland EPA).

  

Janine being breifed by Stacy McLoed

of the Queensland EPA Sustainable

Industries Division.

Janine with Satyajit Data after Brisbane Student Forum sponsored by GHD.

  

Janine talking to students after Brisbane Student Forum sponsored by GHD.

Janine presenting at the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainabile Development and Queensland EPA Sustainable Industries Division Awards.

  

Janine makes new firends after the presentation at the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainabile Development and Queensland EPA Sustainable Industries Division Awards.

 

Janine Benyus with Chris Walton

after he acccepted the Industrial Eco-efficiency Award at the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency Sustainable Industries Awards.

 

  

 

Janine, Catherine and the team from TNEP congratulating Chris Walton and Martin Jackson for the Rural Sustainability

Award for Currumbin ‘EcoVillage’. (Queensland Environmental Protection Agency Sustainable Industries Awards)

 

Janine, Catherine and Cheryl talking

with Philip Bangerter of Hatch atthe

Awards Dinner.

  

 

Janine, Catherine and Cheryl taking

a moment to admire the fig trees

in the middle of Brisbane.

Greg Bruce of Townsville City Council greeting Janine at the airport in the Councils new Prius.

  

Janine talking with Townville students

from Primary level righ up to first

year engineering.

Janine talking to Channel 7

in Townsville.

  

Janine presenting a copy of her book, Biomimicry, to the Townsville

Deputy Major Ann Bunnell.

Janine presenting a a copy of her book, Biomimicry, to Greg Boundy from the SA Department of Trade and Economic Development after an industry beakfast in Adelaide.

  

Private Dinner for sponsors and VIP's in

Adelaide, a chance to get to know

Janine a little better.

Susie Smith from Santos taking some

time out on the balcony at the

Richmond to talk with Janine.

  

Janine being introduced to the Morton

Bay Figs in Adelaide's parklands.

Janine delivering her public lecture in Melbourne.

  

Green Architech Mick Pearce, follwing Janines public lecture to explain the design of the Eastgate Building based on termite mounds.

Janine taking some time out to catch up

with green architect Mick Pearce.

  

 

Private Industry Lunch hosted by Dan

Atkins, Sustainable Business Practices.

Janine delivering her address to

the National Press Club.

  

TNEP Mentor Molly Harris Olsen at Janine's address to the National Press Club.

Janine leading a discussion at with the Victorian Water Industry Association.

  

Janine spending some time with

Dean Cameron from Biolitix.

Janine talking with Yarra Vally Water.

  

Private Dinner for sponsors and

VIP's in Melbourne.