Solutions for societal challenges through Bio Inspired Innovation
Starting September 2016 Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 will offer a new Master鈥檚 programme (BII). BII offers a unique programme by combining science and inspiration from nature with design to come up with sustainable processes and to ensure future food supply. The research groups linked to BII contribute to the strategic theme Sustainability and the focus area Future Food Utrecht of Utrecht 木瓜福利影视.
Society faces societal challenges related to depletion of natural resources, accumulation of toxic compounds, and consumption oriented life styles. A transition to a circular economy would be part of the solution that could create a sustainable society. A circular economy has a minimal energy input and waste output. Biomimicry is an example of a sustainability approach that sets nature center-stage. It is based on the concept that nature has evolved circular strategies that can be implemented in human society.
Unique Master
The combination of biological research, valorization and systems design within BII is unique. The only Master鈥檚 programme that offers similar content worldwide is the Arizona State 木瓜福利影视, but their focus is geared toward product design. Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 will collaborate with them, since they see each other as complementary.
Because of its unique nature, this new Master鈥檚 programme has already attracted a lot of interest from international students. Also on a national level, there is a lot of interest both by students and companies who are looking for sustainable solutions. See the film made by the Dutch television programme Doe Maar Duurzaam (Let鈥檚 make things sustainable) which was aired July 3rd, 2016.
Institute of Environmental Biology
The (IEB) at Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 will provide the curriculum for this Master鈥檚 programme. This institute has a unique international setting of integrated plant and fungal research from the molecular to ecosystem level focusing on booth fundamental and applied aspects. IEB collaborates with a number of institutes that also have a focus on fungi and plants, like NIOO-KNAW and Naturalis. They also collaborate with the Botanical Garden of Utrecht 木瓜福利影视, NGO鈥檚, GO鈥檚 and with small, medium and multinational companies that focus on the bio based and cyclic economy.