Janine Benyus: Biologist, Innovation Consultant, and Author

By: Robin Davies

About Janine Benyus…

A biologist, innovation consultant, and author of six books including:

-The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals (Co-written by Janine M. Benyus and Juan Carlos Barbery) (1998).

-Biomimicry : Innovation Inspired by Nature (1997)

-Beastly Behaviors: A Zoo Lover's Companion (Co-written by Janine M. Benyus and Juan Carlos

Barbery) (1993)-Wildlife in the upper Great

Lakes Region a Community Profile (1992)-The Field Guide to Wildlife

Habitats of the Eastern United States (1989)-Northwood's Wildlife: A

Watcher's Guide to Habitats (1989)

• “Since 1997 Janine has evolved the practice of biomimicry by consulting with sustainable businesses and conducting seminars about what we can learn from the genius that surrounds us ” (Biomimicry 3.8).

• “In 1998, Janine co-founded the Helena, Montana-based Biomimicry Guild (with Dr. Dayna Baumeister), an innovation consultancy that provides biological consulting and research, workshops and field excursions, and a speakers’ bureau” (Biomimicry 3.8). The purpose of the Guild is to assist designers in learning about natural models with the goal of achieving product development, and policies that create conditions conducive to life.

The Biomimicry Institute (TBI)• Janine founded TBI

(The Biomimicry Institute) in 2005; A nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Montana.

• The mission of the institute is to “Nurture and grow a global community of people who are learning from nature to create

• a healthier, more sustainable planet.

• TBI includes programs that are suitable to all age groups.

Biomimicry• “In Biomimicry Janine names an emerging

discipline that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature’s designs and processes (for instance, solar cells that mimic leaves)” (Biomimicry 3.8).

•  ”Her favorite role is biologist-at-the-design-table, introducing innovators to organisms whose well-adapted designs have been tested over 3.8 billion years” (Biomimicry 3.8)”.

• “Janine is an educator at heart, and believes that the more people learn from nature’s mentors, the more they’ll want to protect them.

• This is why she writes, speaks, and revels in describing the wild teachers in our midst.