The Best Biomimicry Courses and Certificates of 2022
Have you been thinking of expanding your biomimicry knowledge or looking to take a biomimicry course or Master's program, but don’t know where to start or which course to take? This article is here to help you by answering those lingering questions you may have. Below is a guide to assist in giving you a better understanding of which biomimicry courses exist, how they compare to each other, and how to go about choosing the right learning path for you.
Do you seek qualifications or experience, grasshopper?
There are two broad categories of online biomimicry courses: “qualification-based” and “experience-based”.
To get to those two broad categories, I’m using the lens of that all-important student question: “What am I going to get out of this?” In our experience, learners usually seek either:
- an academically-recognised qualification for a specific job position or
- a practical understanding and experience that supports the learner's career or interests, and does not necessarily require an academically-recognised qualification.
Naturally, you will get experience and some form of certification in both types of course categories but it is important to first think about what you’re really seeking to achieve from this education. By answering this question, you could make a better decision regarding the type of course which best suits your objectives.
To borrow from biomimicry thinking: What is the function of you taking a biomimicry course? What is your context? What resources are available to you? All of these questions should be brought to the table when you make a decision on which course you want to take.
The Best Online Biomimicry Courses for 2022
Introducing the top online biomimicry courses today. The infographic below is a snapshot of the existing biomimicry courses available as of March 2022, the related prices and duration. The remainder of this article provides more detail and context relating to each course listed below.
The best biomimicry courses of 2022, visualised.
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Top 5 of the Most Popular Biomimicry Courses & Degree Programmes*
Biomimicry Practitioner Programme - Learn Biomimicry
Our Biomimicry Practitioners Programme is purpose-built for working professionals to complete their learning journey online, focused on project-based learning and guided support. Consisting of six months of part-time learning, our programme is built around you and your career, focusing on the practice of applying biomimicry professionally. Our professional mentors will guide you through your learning journey from start to finish, and you’ll gain the ability to practice biomimicry and apply biomimicry thinking to your own personal context. The total cost of the Practitioner Programme is $2,799 and is proudly endorsed by the Biomimicry Institute.
Register for this programme if you’re keen to practise biomimicry, create nature-inspired innovation/s and organisations, or initiate or transform a consulting practice with biomimicry.
Masters in Bioinspired Innovation - University Utrecht
Bio-inspired design and science are used for innovations that support a transition to a sustainable, circular economy. The Master’s programme Bio-Inspired Innovation is a full-time two-year course (120 credits), aimed at students with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, who are interested in research and want to innovate services, products, production systems and design based on principles that have evolved in nature. The University of Utrecht in the Netherlands offers you a route to becoming the biologist at the design table, and the professional that contributes to the transition to a circular economy with Bio-Inspired Innovations.
Biomimicry Certificate - The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
100% online, this course offers a Biomimicry Certificate which focuses on nature-based design strategies through courses on sustainable design, systems thinking and biomimicry. Courses included are 1. Introduction to Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology, 2. Fundamentals of Sustainable Design and Systems Thinking.
Master of Science (MSc) in Biomimicry Online - Arizona State University (ASU)
$29,404.00 | 2.5 - 5 years online
The online Master of Science in Biomimicry at ASU was the original and first of its kind program focusing on an emerging discipline that seeks to apply life’s strategies to human design. Offered in collaboration with Biomimicry 3.8 through The Biomimicry Center at ASU, the MS also complements the Certified Biomimicry Professional program offered by Biomimicry 3.8. The total cost is $29,404.00 and can take anywhere from 2.5 to 5 years. This is for the individual who is based in the USA, and wishes to pursue a biomimicry career or lead the in-house implementation of biomimicry, initiate or transform a consulting practice in the field of biomimicry; incorporate biomimicry into education for the next generation of biomimics or develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the most pressing global challenges.
Undergraduate Certificate, Biomimicry Fellowship Program and Integrated Bioscience PhD Program - The University of Akron
Based in Ohio (USA), the University of Akron offers three defining courses, an Undergraduate Certificate in Biomimicry, the Biomimicry Fellowship Program and a PhD program. The Undergraduate is designed to give students training and experience in the theory, methods, and practice of seeking inspiration from living systems to solve technical challenges. The Biomimicry Fellowship Program and the Integrated Bioscience PhD Program are both tailor-made, but perhaps a too lengthy explanation for this article. See the links above for a better explanation.
What makes our Biomimicry Practitioners Programme uniquely beneficial?
Our bespoke mentoring means that you learn how to apply biomimicry to your own, personal context. We do not follow a prescriptive “biomimicry and …” curriculum, instead, we focus on enabling you to understand the practical biomimicry methodology. Small cohorts (5-8 people) ensure that peer-to-peer learning is possible. You’ll also get to see how your peers are applying biomimicry to their own topics, giving you a feel for real-world complexity, as well as plenty of inspiration.
You’ll also be connected to an active alumni network via the same platforms! Lastly, we like to celebrate the learning process and make new connections, so you will be invited to present your final project presentations for each cohort, regardless of where you are in your training.
Learn Biomimicry focuses on the practice and application of biomimicry and we differ from a traditional educational institution as we adopt project-based learning guided by expert professional biomimicry mentors. The central idea is that learners need to be able to connect new knowledge to existing knowledge in order to form complex networks of understanding. This programme is 100% online, accessible to anyone anywhere in the world, and purpose-built for working professionals who wish to accelerate their careers without taking time off.
The Most Popular Online Short Courses in Biomimicry of 2022
Biomimicry Foundational Course Set - Learn Biomimicry
From Learn Biomimicry’s standpoint, we aim to give you the most diverse starting point into the world of biomimicry. Grasp the fundamental concepts of biomimicry to start practising biomimicry, gain the winning strategies found amongst the species surviving and thriving on Earth and understand what biomimicry thinking is and how to apply it.
This Foundational Course set consists of three courses: 1. Introduction to Biomimicry, 2. Biomimicry Life's Principles and 3. Biomimicry Masterclass. You’ll walk away with a strong understanding of biomimicry thinking and knowledge, suited for the real world. You can read more about the Foundational Course set here.
Inspired by Nature Course - Biomimicry Frontiers / Biomimicry Commons
This is a business-focused course which includes 3 modules: 1. Biomimicry Mindset, 2. Harnessing Nature's Genius and 3. Building your biomimetic future + Introduction and case studies. This self-paced, DIY course will provide you with the methods, mindset and tools. The course facilitator is Jamie Miller, who also offers a biomimicry workshop for 10 individuals in Canada (known as a Biomimicry Excursion).
Biomimicry Basics - Biomimicry for Creative Innovation
This is an introductory online self-paced course, with the instructor Denise DeLuca, Professional Engineer, the co-founder of Biomimicry for Creative Innovation, who will show you a step-by-step method for turning nature’s strategies into innovative solutions for human problems. You’ll not only learn the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of biomimicry, but you’ll also learn how to apply biomimicry to solve technical and non-technical problems.
Free Courses to Start Learning Biomimicry Straight Away
Biomimicry Toolbox - The Biomimicry Institute
Free
Starting from zero to one, you’ll see the Biomimicry Toolbox—the free biomimicry basics resource from the Biomimicry Institute. This course provides a quick-start guide to biomimicry, introducing the core concepts and methods that are essential to a foundational understanding.
eBook - A Field Guide to Biomimicry - Learn Biomimicry
This is followed by this free eBook: A Field Guide to Biomimicry - a simple biomimicry resource that guides you into and through the world of biomimicry. Consider this your starting point to enter into the world of biomimicry (or as a low-cost refresher for those with prior experience).
Click here to download your free field guide to biomimicry
In Closing, what should your journey into biomimicry entail?
Diversity. Networking. Life-long learning. Biomimicry is really a life-long and life-wide practice. Regardless of your experience and/or qualification, the more you practise it, the better you’ll get. The world of biomimicry is growing rapidly and new information is surfacing all the time. Oh boy, it can be overwhelming. Today, the world asks us to create both technical and ethical innovations that move us from a linear to a circular economy. Biomimicry offers a new approach to sustainability, and there are a number of biomimicry courses that effectively assist you in learning biomimicry.
Before you go, one final thought we hope to leave you with is that theory alone will not change the world. It is only through practice and applying biomimicry that we will be able to move into a thriving world that creates conditions conducive to life. Learning biomimicry can sometimes be overwhelming, or scary. That’s why the Biomimicry Practitioners Programme assists you to practise and apply biomimicry in your own career, business or next project.
We encourage you to use this resource to connect the dots and create your own journey that answers your own needs. Whether you choose to start with us and move all the way up to the MSc, or whether you decide that a specialisation course is your best move—it’s up to you.
Start where you are, and #thinkoutside.
Stay curious,
Jess
Jessica Berliner | Learn Biomimicry Co-founder and Course Facilitator
Jess has an unwavering passion for nature, education and design, which slowly steered her career into specialising in biomimicry education. She led the course design of the Learn Biomimicry courses, worked closely with Claire Janisch and BiomimicrySA for around 10 years, and assisted in building up the biomimicry community in South Africa. Today she’s more globally focused, and frequently connects with the top biomimicry practitioners around the world. Jess is passionate about improving the way that we design our products and systems and believes that biomimicry provides both the vision and the means to do so.