Speakers
Betsy Taylor is the founder and President of the Center for a New American Dream, a non-profit group that helps Americans resist excessive commercialism and consume wisely to protect the environment, improve quality of life, and enhance social justice.
Janine Benyus is a co-founder of Biomimicry Guild, the Innovation Consultancy, which helps innovators learn from and emulate natural models in order to design sustainable products, processes, and policies that create conditions conducive to life. She is also President of the Biomimicry Institute, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to naturalize biomimicry in the culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design.
Canadian design Bruce Mau has taken great steps toward sustainable design with the foundation of the Institute without Boundaries, which in turn produced Massive Change, a multi-venue exhibition on the possibilities of design culture. Bruce Mau will be speaking on his work towards sustainable design.
Steven Strong is regarded as the pre-eminent authority on integration of renewable energy systems in buildings in North America. Drawing on his background in Architecture and Engineering, he has earned a reputation for pioneering integration of renewable energy systems - especially solar electricity - with environmentally responsive building design. Steven Strong will speak of alternate energy sources for our future.
Paolo Soleri’s concept of “Arcology,” advocates cities designed to maximize the interaction and accessibility associated with an urban environment; minimize the use of energy, raw materials and land, reducing waste and environmental pollution; and allow interaction with the surrounding natural environment. Paolo Soleri is joining us to discuss his work in regards to integrating yourself with your environment.
Tim Carmichael is Executive Director of the Coalition for Clean Air, a non-profit environmental advocacy organization dedicated to restoring clean, healthful air to all California residents. As Executive Director, he develops and oversees the organization’s strategy for reducing air pollution in California. He manages day-to-day operations, raises funds, and serves as principal spokesperson for the Coalition.
Editor of theslowhome.com and the founder of the Slow Home movement. He is a registered architect and a Professor of Architecture at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Suzuki is recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology. He is the recipient of UNESCO’s Kalinga Prize for Science, the United Nations Environment Program Medal and the Global 500. He is a fellow of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. Dr. Suzuki will be speaking broadly on what it will take to maintain our world.
