November 21, 2008

Symposium focuses on sustainable processes, policies and technologies inspired by nature

Area residents, Purdue faculty and students are invited to participate in the event, which is free and open to the public.

The event's morning session, which runs from 8-10:30 a.m. in Purdue's Stewart Center, Room 202, will include a keynote lecture at 10:30 a.m. by Bill Wilson, a permaculture educator and co-founder of Stelle, Ill.-based firm Midwest Permaculture. Permaculture is a design science used to create sustainable human habitats based on ecological patterns.

Product design and development expert Curt McNamara, a Buckminster Fuller scholar who created the innovation and systems classes for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design's sustainability certificate, will deliver the luncheon keynote on biomimicry at 12:15 p.m. in Purdue Memorial Union's South Ballroom.

The interdisciplinary event, titled "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature for a Sustainable World," includes a student poster presentation and competition on related research. McNamara will lead a biomimicry workshop from 2-5 p.m. in the union's South Ballroom. Student and local environmental organizations also will have information booths on their projects.

Brent Ladd, the Center for the Environment's learning and engagement coordinator, said the symposium provides a forum for students to present research, interact with experts in environmental fields and learn about sustainable design efforts at Purdue and the community.

To register, go to: https://www.purdue.edu/dp/ese/symposium/reg_form.htm

Writer: Phillip Fiorini, (765) 496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu

Source: Brent Ladd, (765) 494-1949, laddb@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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