Semester Away
The Biophilic Institute envisions students becoming leaders in the movement to transform exhausted styles of growth in their communities into more sustainable and nature-invoking realities for our future. Students today are, in fact, the planet’s leaders of tomorrow.
To prepare students, the Institute will use a “thought + practice = leadership” learning approach to facilitate forward thinking and real-world research on what constitutes a biophilic life. Research initially will center on living laboratories such as Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills, and Atlanta, but will expand geographically as we partner with universities and organizations.
Essential to the success of this student-focus is the creation of partnerships with academic institutions and their faculty, researchers and leadership.
With the help and guidance of both their faculty and Institute mentors, students will be encouraged to use the lessons and best practices they learn and implement these in their own communities to foster healthier and more vibrant places to live.
Download the Excel file “Subjects of Study and Research at Serenbe & Chattahoochee Hills” to learn how both communities offer real world, living laboratories that connect with college and university degree programs. Click on degree fields in the Excel file to open links to U.S. Department of Education program descriptions. Note that Excel can be viewed but is not fully functional on some mobile devices.
Programs:
Best Practice Labs: Students will research and document best practices found in Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills and Atlanta. The list of living laboratories will expand as partnerships are developed with universities, governments and other thought-leading organizations.
Young Leaders Network: Periodic events will facilitate education and networking opportunities to bring students with an interest and passion for the environment and public health together for positive collaboration.
Sustainable Solutions Competition: A competition will encourage students across universities to strategize and create innovative business, civic or technological solutions to problems that threaten the sustainability of their communities.
“My Biophilic Life” Video Contest: A competition will inspire and enable students to document sustainability-related issues and problems, and highlight solutions communities have adopted to address these problems.
