The Amazon is a hotbed of species diversity and each day we are in the field, we are amazed and inspired by the creatures we encounter. We return home with photos to frame and images to share. But what if we returned home with more? What if our time in the Amazon inspired us to think about nature differently? The Amazon not just a hotbed of diversity, it is also a hotbed of inspiration and innovation. Each organism is a STEM (science, techonology, engineering, math) marvel. With more than 10% of the world's biodiversity, the Amazon is truly our ultimate research and development facility - brimming with ideas for creating sustainable products, processes, and policies. |
 Discovering STEM in the Amazon
After poking around in the leaf litter and climbing into the canopy of the Amazon, it seems we might have discovered a new species of STEM.  We affectionately call it by its common name, STEMazon. Although not officially described by STEMologists, we have petitioned to give it a proper scientific name - Stemus amazonicus.
STEM, as you may know, is an educational organism that is taking the world by storm. School districts across the country are scrambling to get some form of STEM into their classrooms as fast as possible. Everyone is hopeful that a healthy population of STEMs will bring much needed balance to the educational ecosystem.
All puns and humor aside, here at Amazon Workshops, our goal is to make the Amazon relevant in today's classrooms. Until recently, most educators didn't believe that the Amazon had any connection to their classrooms and curricula. Sure, all those monkeys are super cute and the frogs really are fabulous, but in this age of high stakes testing, the Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards, the common misconception was that the Amazon had no relevance to 21st century instruction.
While we firmly believe that teaching about the Amazon's amazing flora, fauna, and indigenous cultures has merit and value, we also realize that in order to make these topics relevant in today's educational ecosystem, we need a new approach.
As a result, we are investigating how Amazon themes and topics can be used as focal points for
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) lessons, activities, and explorations.
It is critical that today's students develop the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness needed to understand the ecosystem services provided by the Amazon Rainforest and its value to us and everyone on the planet. It is equally important that they develop the skills necessary to actively participate in its protection.
Incorporating the principles of high quality STEM education into our toolkit and into our field programs is a powerful way to do this. |
What can we learn from Tropical Rainforests?
Have you ever been awe-struck by nature's engineering prowess and thought to yourself, "how in the world is that possible?" or "wouldn't it be great if humans could do that?" Did it ever occur to you to think of nature as a big research and development firm with over 3.8 billion years of experience and over 3 million species acting as free consultants? Welcome to the world of biomimicry - a world where creative and thoughtful people are looking to nature for inspiration.
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bi-o-mim-ic-ry:
Learning from and then emulating natural forms, processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs.
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What better place to explore the idea of biomimicry than the Amazon - nature's hotbed of innovation and inspiration? Take for example our mascot, the lovely blue morpho butterfly. Did you know that the new "glare-free" e-reader screens were inspired by blue morphos and "mimic" how the wings absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light? Check out this 2 minute video and meet the engineers who were inspired by an Amazonian butterfly!
 | | The mirasol?? Effect: Biomimicry: |
Taking a walk down a rainforest trail takes on a whole new meaning if you thinking like a biomimic. Each plant and animal you encounter is uniquely adapted to survive and thrive using a minimal amount of resources, creating a minimal amount of waste, and leaving behind a minimal impact on the environment. Every organism a source of inspiration, a blueprint of design, a model of sustainability.
Now imagine using biomimicry as a focus for STEM education - asking your students to study a leaf to learn how to make solar cells or a spider to make resilient fibers. Imagine them learning how to adhere like a gecko, create color like a butterfly, sequester carbon like a mollusk, and air condition like a leaf cutter ant.
This summer students and teachers will put on their biomimicry hats and prowl the Amazon rainforest in search of inspiration - learning from nature, not just about nature.
Check out the QuickLinks section for more info on biomimicry! |
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Are you incorporating STEM into your classroom instruction? How might you use Amazon topics and themes as focal points for STEM instruction? Post your ideas on our blog.
We hope you've enjoyed this issue of Amazon Explorer. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Let us know how we can make future editions of Amazon Explorer even better.
Sincerely,
Amazon Rainforest Workshops Team
© 2013 Environmental Expeditions |
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LAST CALL
for 2013 Educator Academy Registrations
 Take your
professional development to a whole new level - out of the classroom and into the jungle.
Investigate the Amazon rainforest using best practice 21st century instructional models such as inquiry- based exploration, STEM education, sustainability science, and more. Return to your classroom with a
new set of skills and tools that will
enrich your teaching and deepen student understanding.
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Quick Links for STEM and Biomimicry Info
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Looking for a STEM focused expedition for your Students? Why not the Amazon?
Be a STEM and biomimicry mentor and share the magic of the Amazon with your students. As a teacher leader you can jump start their passion for learning and discovery.
With just 10 students your travel expenses are covered.
Visit our webiste to learn more about our
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What New Designs, Processes, and Products might these Amazon creatures inspire?
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Blue and Yellow Macaw |
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Orchid Bee |
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