Bioneers, our favorite eco/spiritual conference in the world—it’s how I first encountered the work of Van Jones, Paul Hawken and some of my other idols —may have its main event every year out in Cali (which we just attended and covered), but satellite events take place alllll over the US.

We’re proud to be working with and participating in the University of Colorado event this year. Look left for the ad, click, and check out the dates and other info. See you there, wherever you are!

This year, the featured speakers are [listed below].

For those of you unfamiliar with Bioneers, click any of the highlighted links in this text, or check out a few of the videos below. ~ ed.

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You’re in for an experience.

I know where I’ll be getting my community, inspiration, and interaction this weekend.

Rather than heading into the hills, although a mountain rendezvous is tempting given the fantastic fall weather we’ve been blessed with, I’ll be on CU-Boulder’s beautiful campus engaging with friends, celebrating innovative thinking and practice, and making an important contribution to my community.

The 9th annual Colorado Bioneers conference is on!

Inspired to learn, engage, and build collaborative relationships with fellow community members in a groundbreaking and progressive environment? Then Bioneers is where you want to be.

Bioneers is, well, awesome.  If you’ve attended in previous years, you know what I am talking about. If you’re new to the conference, then you’re in for a transformative experience.

“Bioneers is an event that changes lives,” says Sarah Dawn Haynes, the programs assistant at the University of Colorado’s Environmental Center, who has been actively involved in Bioneers since 2004. “People put so much energy into producing the yearly conference because it’s unique. It breaks down the silos of movements and groups.”

“You don’t have to be an environmental activist or a woman’s rights activist or a farmer or an engineer to engage,” Haynes continues. “You just need to celebrate the people leading these movements. It’s about collaboration and understanding connections between movements.”

The Colorado Bioneers conference will be held this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on the University of Colorado’s Boulder campus in the Eaton Humanities building.

This year’s conference will focus on issues concerning food production and climate justice, address ecological concerns, offer field trips and children’s eco-activities, provide a forum for genuine dialogue between concerned citizens, and so much more!

Please join me and hundreds of other inspired citizens this weekend to celebrate what is possible.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

~ Jessie Lucier

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It’s finally here!

The Colorado Bioneers Conference starts this Friday. We are all so excited and looking forward to all the amazing presentations and sessions and so thankful for your time and expertise.

Also, please find the description of the conference below. We would really appreciate if you could circulate this through your networks.

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**TO POST AND CIRCULATE**

9th Annual Colorado Bioneers
October 28-30, 2011
University of Colorado at Boulder

Bioneers is the preeminent gathering of leading scientific innovators & environmental visionaries offering practical solutions to the most pressing environmental and social issues of our time.  Celebrating its 21st anniversary, this conference connects the dots between environment, health, social justice and spirit in a unique and authentic way. CU Environmental Center, Transition Colorado, Naropa University, Center for Resource Conservation, Restorative Leadership Institute and Woodbine Ecology Center with the support of sponsors and community partners are proud to bring a Bioneers satellite forum to Boulder for the ninth year.

Colorado Bioneers creates community opportunities for sharing, learning and action, and brings together the region’s progressive ideas, people and organizations. The event features a broadcast of the national Bioneers plenaries and is locally enriched with: music and arts, networking, children’s eco-activities, and field trips, sessions, workshops and keynotes addressing topics of regional importance and community solutions.

For more info and to register, visit: ecenter.colorado.edu/bioneers

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FULL VERSION

9th Annual Colorado Bioneers
October 28-30, 2011
University of Colorado at Boulder
ecenter.colorado.edu/bioneers

Bioneers is the preeminent gathering of leading scientific innovators & environmental visionaries offering practical solutions to the most pressing environmental and social issues of our time.  Celebrating its 21st anniversary, this conference connects the dots between environment, health, social justice and spirit in a unique and authentic way. CU Environmental Center, Transition Colorado, Naropa University, Center for Resource Conservation, Restorative Leadership Institute and Woodbine Ecology Center with the support of sponsors and community partners are proud to bring a Bioneers satellite forum to Boulder for the ninth year.

Colorado Bioneers creates community opportunities for sharing, learning and action, and brings together the region’s progressive ideas, people and organizations. The event features a broadcast of the national Bioneers plenaries and is locally enriched with: music and arts, networking, children’s eco-activities, and field trips, sessions, workshops and keynotes addressing topics of regional importance and community solutions.

2011 National Plenaries:
·      Joshua Fouts and Rita King, “The Emerging Imagination Age”
·      Mary Evelyn Tucker, “The Power of Story”
·      Amory Lovins, “Reinventing Fire”
·      Anim Steel, “The Real Food Challenge”
·      Dayna Baumeister, “Life’s Operating Manual”
·      Rebecca Moore, “Google Earth-Eye View: Mapping a Future Environment of Hope”
·      John D. Liu, “Restoration Writ Large: Unleashing the Potential of Nature and People for Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration”
·      Paul Stamets, “Solutions from the Underground: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World”
·      Melissa Nelson, “Revitalizing Indigeneity: Eco-Cultural Knowledge and Reciprocity”
·      Karen Brown, “Revolutionizing K-12 Education with Sustainability in Mind”
·      Phillipe Cousteau, “Continuing a Legacy: Building a Sustainable World in the 21st Century”
·      Gloria Steinem, “When Women Are People…and Corporations Are Not: Why the First Inequality Will Also Be The Last”
·      Roxanne Brown, “Blue and Green: Working Together to Secure a Sustainable Future”
·      Pam Rajput, “Voices for Peace and Sustainable Development – The First Women’s Parliament of India.”

Local Plenaries:
·      Author Hannah Nordhaus, “The Future of America’s Honey Bee and the People who Keep Them”
·      Artist and Educator Adrian Molina, “Bronze Future: Letters for 2045”
·      Adam Brock of The GrowHaus, “Invisible Structures: Ecodesign for Human Interaction”
·      Entrepreneur Pieter Oosthuizen “Bio-Intelligence: Utilizing the Essential Salts of Life to Create True Plant-Based Medicine”

A featured event will be a free public film screening and discussion of “Mother: Caring for 7 Billion,” with co-producers Joyce Johnson and Christophe Fauchere at 6:30 pm Saturday, October 29.

Field trips on Friday, October 28 require advance registration by October 25:
·      Growing Gardens
·      Center for Resource Conservation Cold Frame Building Workshop and Resource Yard Tour
·      Williams Village North LEED Platinum Residence Hall at CU-Boulder
·      Tours of Tiny House and Cure Organic Farm Research Greenhouse

Twenty-eight sessions and workshops will address a variety of topics of regional importance and interest.  A few examples of presentations are: Permaculture and Fungi; Building Social Capital; Biomimicry in Action; Slow Money and Restorative Economics; Environmental Leadership; Empowering Youth through Food Justice and Urban Agriculture.

The children’s program, appropriate for Bioneers kids aged 4-12, runs on Saturday from 9 am to 5:30 pm and on Sunday from 9 am to 4:30 pm.