IW 2018 - Hoeller

The Who and What of Communicating Biom*

Title: The Who and What of Communicating Biom*

Abstract:

Biom* (an umbrella term for biomimicry, bio-inspired design, and biomimetics) has gained significant mindshare but lags other innovation methods in the business environment. Biom* communication often targets existing and budding proponents. Could biom* communicate better with businesses that are either skeptical or waiting on the sidelines? The presentation will analyze the Biomimicry 3.8 Carbon Report from a business communications perspective, explore the British Standards Institution standard 8001 Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations as a model, and review recent ISO/TC 266 "Biomimetics" initiatives.

Bio:

After an extensive career in Information Technology, most recently as a Consulting Architect and technical program manager in charge of major infrastructure implementations at IBM, Norbert Hoeller founded the design research and consulting practice Sustainable Innovation Network. His primary areas of interest are tools and methods supporting systems-oriented, bio-inspired sustainable design.

Norbert has taught biomimicry and sustainability workshops at OCAD University, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, the Design Exchange, Ryerson University, the Nexus Student Sustainability Group (Auckland, New Zealand), ADMI and the University of Toronto. He is a director of BioDreamMachine, the founder and practice leader of the Bio-Inspired Design Community, a co-editor of the Zygote Quarterly Journal and chair of the Canadian mirror committee for ISO’s Technical Committee #266 on “Biomimetics”.