The prefix ‘bio’ represents a tie to something living, to integrate a discipline with life. The program aims to honour that by bringing young people closer to nature. Courses that integrate with the bio- program can add this prefix to their title.
Bright colours, organic textures and variable letterforms are all inspired by nature to produce a vibrant identity aimed at students. Corporate rhetoric is blended with biodiversity as part of a communication strategy promoting the idea of “nature credentials” to young professionals.
So how does it actually work? In more detail, bio- is a speculative educational program in which students can earn a unique qualification by integrating their field of study with biodiversity. This is achieved through a 12 week course, run by third level institutions, that can be completed alongside their core degree.
Participants will engage with biodiversity in both their personal and professional lives, through recreational activities, community workshops and a college module. These are divided into three distinct sections: personal, college and community life, which carry different credits.
The program is also supported by a digital learning tool that students can download once they sign up. When students complete the program they will earn their bio-certificate.
Each student’s journey is personalised through the objects they collect (as part of logging their personal time spent in nature) and the activities they undertake. Once completed, each receives a personalised declaration and certificate, and a bio-badge to spread the message.
There is global recognition from organisations such as the UN and IPBES that the failing human relationship with nature is an underlying cause of our current environmental catastrophe. Ireland in particular is one of the least connected nations to nature, with younger generations reported having the weakest relationships. This is resulting in huge knowledge and research gaps of our native species, and has ultimately led us into a biodiversity crisis.
Conversely, research has shown that strong nature connectedness is linked with pro environmental behaviours, healthier biodiversity, and reduced climate change, as well as improved wellbeing for humans.
From conducting user research, I found that the majority of students already had an appreciation for nature, and would like to connect more with it. However this was a low priority, with busy schedules, lack of easy access, poor nature education and bad weather often getting in the way.
From talking with a biodiversity specialist I also learnt that people are more likely to engage with nature communally and through their own interests, and that more visceral bodily experiences with biodiversity, such as sea swimming or forest walks, made people feel most connected.
The objective then became creating a system that would offer young adults the time, access and education necessary to engage with nature in ways that interested them, and facilitate more visceral, communal experiences.
As college is a place where many young adults spend most of their time pursuing their interests, and socially gathering, an educational module felt like the right way to integrate biodiversity into their lives.
The prefix ‘bio’ represents a tie to something living, to integrate a discipline with life. The program aims to honour that by bringing young people closer to their living environments.
More specifically, bio- is a speculative educational program that encourages third level students to integrate biodiversity into their learning experience, earning them a unique qualification that will set them apart in their field of study. This is achieved through a 12 week course, run by third level institutions, that can be completed alongside their core degree.
Participants will engage with biodiversity in both their personal and professional lives, through recreational activities, community workshops and a college module. These are divided into three distinct sections: personal, college and community life, which carry different credits.
The program is also supported by a digital learning tool that students can download once they sign up. When students complete the program they will earn their bio. certificate.
