Bioneers By The Bay Conference Hosts Internationally Acclaimed Gathering of Scientific and Social Innovators

Dartmouth, MA — Sold out three-day celebration of the earth and how to save it held at UMass.
Marion, MA — The Marion Institute hosted the Second Annual “Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change” conference, at UMass Dartmouth, from Oct. 20 through Oct. 22, 2006.
The three-day conference featured workshops on renewable energy systems; new paradigms in business; native ecology; healthy food; youth leadership; holistic health; sustainable communities; a Youth Initiative program; and much more. Callum Grieve, executive director for the Marion Institute explains, “Bioneers by the Bay has swiftly become the go-to environmental event, here in the northeast. We are proud to present a platform where students, scientists, grassroots people, as well as soccer-moms-and-dads can all share visionary and practical solutions for helping us to lead more sustainable lifestyles that can help restore the planet for us, our children and our children’s children.”
Daily keynote presenters included:
* Billy Parish, a 2005 Rolling Stone “Climate Champion,” global warming warrior, as well as co-founder and coordinator of The Energy Action Coalition, has most recently been developing new campus leaders, organizing conferences and designing campaigns for the growing youth movement. Through his passionate activism, he has convinced 279 campuses around the country to say “No!” to dirty energy and sign-on to his Campus Climate Action.
* Van Jones, a tireless human rights activist and social justice advocate, is the preeminent voice for minorities leading the environmental revolution. His articles can be read at The Huffington Post, The Nation, Yes!, and Alternet.org among others.
* Janine Benyus, lecturer and science writer, has authored seven books including Biomimicry, in which she introduces us to scientists who are already discovering nature-based innovations that will change the way we heal ourselves, make materials, grow food and harness energy.
* Lynn Margulis, distinguished professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, her publications span a wide range of scientific topics. She is best known for her theory of symbiogenesis, which challenges a central tenet of neodarwinism. Margulis argues that inherited variation, significant in evolution, does not come mainly from random mutations. Rather new tissues, organs, and even new species evolve primarily through the long-lasting intimacy of strangers. She suggests that the fusion of genomes in symbioses followed by natural selection, leads to increasingly complex levels of individuality.
* Gunter Pauli is the founder of Zero Emissions Research Initiatives (ZERI), a systems-based approach to economic and social development that allows communities and businesses to do more with what Nature produces. He has developed an education model showing that children, adolescents and young adults learn science in a way that gives them a more profound academic understanding, while at the same time, it helps develop their emotional intelligence, eco-literacy, and artistic/creative capacities.
* John Todd, named one of the 20th Century’s top 35 inventors in 2002 and voted a “Hero of the Earth” by TIME magazine, Todd has pioneered the field of ecological design. His ideas often involve applications that make use of alternative technologies. His principle interests include solving the problems of food production and waste-water processing. He is the inventor of Living Machines, an ecologically engineered technology developed to restore, conserve, or remediate sewage or other polluted water, by replicating and accelerating the natural purification processes of streams, ponds and marshes.
Other highlights of the weekend included presentations from Paul Hawken; James McCarthy [head of Harvard’s Environmental Science and Public Policy program]; Ray Anderson [founder of Interface, the recyclable, leased carpet pioneer]; Margot Adler [NPR]; John Lash with Lynn Margulis [Gaia hypothesis and Metahistory]; and Jeremy Narby [The Cosmic Serpent and Intelligence in Nature]; Julia Butterfly Hill, the youth program facilitator; and workshops with Lisa Harrow & Roger Payne; Jan Lundberg; Eric Toensmeier; Laurie Lane-Zucker; Gary Cohen; and Craig Holdrege.
The “Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change” conference is the 2006 Northeast Regional Conference of Bioneers, a nationwide annual gathering of scientific and social innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring the Earth and communities. “Bioneers by the Bay” is a partnership between the Marion Institute, Bioneers, the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, The Coalition for Buzzards Bay, UMass Dartmouth and a wide array of regional colleges and grassroots organizations. The partnership ensures that this event becomes a profoundly inspiring, dynamic and successful annual experience.
In addition, the event presented a program of speakers, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitors, food, entertainment, a film festival and related events. The “Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change” Conference featured a live link, via satellite, to the main Bioneers event in San Rafael, California.
About Bioneers
Founded in 1990, Bioneers is a nonprofit organization that promotes practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring the Earth and communities. For more information about Bioneers, call 1.877.BIONEER, email info@bioneers.org or visit www.bioneers.org
About The Marion Institute
Founded in 1992, the Marion Institute is dedicated to identifying and promoting programs that seek to enhance life for the Earth and its inhabitants. The Institute has long been dedicated to exploring new frontiers in health and healing of the mind, body, and spirit. We are committed to uniting people who want to heal the planet-and themselves-by encouraging a deeper understanding of the past, a dynamic experience of the present, and a passionate vision of a healthy future. We believe in the interdependence of all life and the critical balance necessary for a sustainable future.
For more information about the Marion Institute, call 508.748.0816, email info@marioninstitute.org or visit www.marioninstitute.org.