A New Word. Founder Kenny Ausubel coined the term Bioneers in 1990 to describe an emerging culture. Bioneers are social and scientific innovators from all walks of life and disciplines who have peered deep into the heart of living systems to understand how nature operates, and to mimic “nature’s operating instructions” to serve human ends without harming the web of life. Nature’s principles—kinship, cooperation, diversity, symbiosis and cycles of continuous creation absent of waste—can also serve metaphoric guideposts for organizing an equitable, humane and democratic society.

A Leading Source of Innovative Solutions. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we share the solutions presented at the Bioneers Conference and through our programs. Our media productions leverage this content to reach millions of people around the nation and the world: our award-winning radio series, Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature; book series; television programs; and our interactive website. We act as a key source for the media, including third-party films and the press. Our DVDs, CDs and other educational materials are used by colleges and schools, and by community organizations to inform and inspire positive change at the local level.

An Annual Conference. Every October, we convene brilliant social and scientific innovators to share breakthrough solutions with more than 10,000 people attending both our main Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, California, and Beaming Bioneers Satellite conferences around the country.

A Systemic Framework. The bioneers are engaged citizens from all walks of life who focus on solving our world’s most urgent problems within a framework of interdependence: It’s all connected. Just as the web of life is intricately interconnected, so too are all environmental and social issues. Taking care of nature means taking care of people – and taking care of people means taking care of nature. We take a “solve-the-whole-problem” approach that is holistic, systemic, and multidisciplinary.

A Network of Networks. Bioneers fosters connection, cross-pollination and collaboration by bringing together diverse people and projects within a broadly progressive framework. We connect people with solutions and grow social capital for positive change by linking strategic networks on the local, regional, national and international levels.

A Catalyst for Restoration. Sustainability is the dynamic midpoint between perpetual natural cycles of destruction and restoration. In this severely damaged and depleted world, “sustainability” is not enough. We need to tip the scales toward restoration, regeneration and resilience to sustain the web of life for future generations.

An Oasis of Hope. As a celebration of the dazzling genius of people and nature, Bioneers helps spark mass creativity and engagement. As author and social entrepreneur Paul Hawken said, “Bioneers is central to the re-imagination of what it means to be human.”


What is Beaming Bioneers?

Bioneers Satellite Conferences.
In 2008, Bioneers has partnered with eighteen communities across the country to produce Bioneers Satellite Conferences. The majority of these events will take place on the same weekend, featuring a live satellite presentation of the national plenary addresses from California. By linking internationally renowned speakers with local topics and experts on the ground, Bioneers Satellite Conferences inspire a potent ‘global-local’ approach towards solving local and regional problems.

Bioneers partners with local, independent community groups and organizations to produce the Satellite Conferences. While these partners are not chapters of Bioneers, they do work closely with the New Mexico based organization to organize and produce the conferences. Each spring, organizers come together for a training to discuss the upcoming year, share best practices and to continue towards building a network of communities through the annual Bioneers Conference.

Since its inception in 2001, the goal of the Beaming Bioneers Satellite program has always been to help move the stories and solutions of the Bioneers Conference into action in local communities. The program has since blossomed in ways we never could have dreamed. Beaming Bioneers Conferences have helped to pioneer new institutional food purchasing policies, inspired city commitments to climate change agreements, connected low income schools with visionary funders and helped to build bridges between disparate communities towards a healthier world.

This year [YOUR COMMUNITY] joins the following communities where conferences are taking place as part of the growing Bioneers Community Network.

Anchorage, Alaska Baltimore, Maryland Boulder, Colorado Bozeman, Montana Carbondale, Illinois Cleveland, Ohio Detroit, Michigan Grinnell, Iowa Logan, Utah

Houston, Texas Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota New Bedford, Massachusetts Portland, Maine Salt Lake City, Utah Seattle, Washington Spokane, Washington Traverse City, Michigan Turlock, California