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Bioneers by the Bay conference hosts internationally
acclaimed gathering of scientific and social innovators
 Sold
out three-day celebration of the earth and how to save
it held at UMass Dartmouth
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. |
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