Past symposia (2013-2023)
2024
Sustainability Forum: Biodesign
22 October 2024
What is biodesign?
Biodesign pulls influence and inspiration from two very different fields:
Biological science asks: How does life, at scales from cells to the globe, flourish in the face of a destructive environment and scarce resources? How does life change over time and space to deal with these challenges, and how does it adapt to new problems that the world presents? In short, biological science seeks an understanding of how life works.
Design approaches are a way to develop innovative solutions for problems faced by humanity. Creativity is combined with testing, iteration and feedback to create new technologies and ways of approaching the world. In short, design approaches seek to solve problems to improve human well-being.
Biodesign combines design approaches with knowledge and tools of biological systems. However, biodesign also goes further than this, advocating for integration of life into the technology that humanity relies on day-to-day. Living organisms are envisioned as incorporated into fabrication processes, products, and built and urban systems.
Invited Speakers:
Daniel Grushkin, TômTex Inc.
Dr. Elda Hegmann, Kent State University
Britta Bielak, NCIDQ, Kent State University
Moderated by Dr. Sarah Eichler, Kent State University
Sustainability Forum: Building Better Water Systems
14 March 2024
Sponsorship by Cleveland Water Alliance
Invited Speakers:
Gebby Keny, Rice University
Marie Fechik-Kirk, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Dr. Merrin Macrae, University of Waterloo
Moderated by Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Kent State University
Poems from the from The Wick Poetry Center's "Dear Body of Water" poetry activity can be viewed here. And you can participate at any time!
Partnering with Kent State's Office of Sustainability and University Culinary Services this was a Green Event, part of our Campus Race to Zero Waste!
2023
Environmental Justice, Ecology, and Race
13 - 14 April 2023
Co-hosted with Kent State's Anti-Racism and Equity Institute
Sponsorship by Cleveland Water Alliance
Keynote speaker
Dorceta Taylor, Yale University
- Oscar Rocha, Kent State University
- Paul Chiyokten Wagner, Protectors of the Salish Sea
- Kawenniiosta Jock (Wolf Clan) (Orenhre'kowa Ki'taratakie), Waterfall Unity Alliance
- Elaine (Lan Yin) Hsiao, Kent State University
- Aaron Rimmler-Cohen, Farm Sanctuary
- Valerie Trouet, Arizona State University
- Kofi Boone, North Carolina State University
- Nayyirah Shariff, Flint Rising
- Taraneh Meshkani, Kent State University
Speaker Biographies
2023 Symposium Highlights
2023 Symposium Abstract Catalog
2020
Facing 21st Century Nature: Configuring Fresh Approaches Through Biodesign
16 - 18 March 2020
Keynote speaker
Rachel Armstrong, Newcastle University
- Christie Bahlai, Kent State University
- Margarita Benitez, Kent State University
- J. R. Campbell, Kent State University
- Terry Cardy, Kent State University
- Maria Paz Gutierrez, University of California- Berkeley
- J. Scott MacIvor, University of Toronto- Scarborough
- Lauren McPhillips, Pennsylvania State University
- Bridget Mulvey, Kent State University
- Amy M. Youngs, The Ohio State University
Despite the event being canceled in-person due to COVID-19, symposium virtual events included:
- Exhibition and lecture by visiting scholar Rachel Armstrong, Newcastle University
- Student lightning talks
- Poster session
- Collaboration with Design Innovation Initiative
2019
Complexity of Environmental Legacies
19 - 21 March 2019
Keynote speakers
Elizabeth W. Boyer, Pennsylvania State University
J. Henry Fair, environmentalist and fine art photographer
- Jennifer Grieser, Cleveland Metroparks
- Elizabeth Herndon, Kent State University
- Bess Krietemeyer, Syracuse University
- Rui Liu, Kent State University
- Noel Palomo-Lovinski, Kent State University
- Chris Winslow, The Ohio State University
Additional symposium events included:
- Poster session and book signing with J. Henry Fair
- Panel discussion with symposium speakers
2017
Natural and Designed Ecologies
4 - 5 October 2017
Keynote speaker
Tim Beatley, University of Virginia
- Daniel Bain, University of Pittsburgh
- Margarita Benitz, Kent State University
- Kelly Bricker, University of Utah
- Reid Coffman, Kent State University
- James Fraser, Vanderbilt University
- Petra Gruber, University of Akron
- Mitchell Joachim, Terreform One
- David Jurca, Kent State University
- Joshua Lawler, University of Washington
- Andrew Lepp, Kent State University
- Kayla Perry, The Ohio State University
- Lisa Petit, National Park Service
- Laia Mogas Soldevila, Tufts University
Additional symposium events include:
- Poster session
- Multiple panel discussions
2016
Sustainability and Resilience on the Land-Water Continuum
5 - 6 October 2016
Keynote speaker
Cynthia Barnett, journalist and author of Rain: A Natural and Cultural History and Blue Revolution. Unmaking America's Water Crisis
- Darren Bade, Kent State University
- Chris Blackwood, Kent State University
- Andrew Curtis, Kent State University
- Matt Davies, The Ohio State University
- Chris Davis, National Park Service
- Sarah Godsey, Idaho State University
- Connie Hausman, Cleveland Metroparks
- Laura Johnson, Heidelberg University
- Wendy Kellogg, Cleveland State University
- Melissa Kenney, University of Maryland
- Karin Kettenring, Utah State University
- Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Kent State University
- Mark McCabe, Gresham Smith and Partners
- Tom Meixner, University of Arizona
- Harry Sarvis, Ohio EPA
- James White, Cuyahoga County Port Authority
- Truman Young, University of California- Davis
Additional symposium events included:
- Book signing
- Poster session
- Panel discussion
2015
Water in a Changing Climate: Regional to Global Issues
14 - 15 October 2015
Keynote speaker
Richard Alley, Pennsylvania State University
- Emily M. Elliott, University of Pittsburgh
- Xiaozhen (Jen) Mou, Kent State University
- Allison Steiner, University of Michigan
- V. Kelly Turner, Kent State University
- Gena Wirth, SCAPE Landscape Architecture LLC