I was a biologist once, before I got into television, so I find these times particularly trying when I see schoolteachers and otherwise intelligent people calling evolution into question. That's part of the reason that I jumped at the chance to co-produce a story about bio-inspiration (the other reason being that I LOVE geckos…which will make more sense if you watch our QUEST Bio-inspiration segment).

Bio-inspired design borrows its creative inspiration from models and systems in nature, that is, plant and animal parts that have been slowly tweaked for over 3.8 billion years. But that doesn't mean that nature's designs are perfect. In fact, that's what makes the process of engineering things based on natural models so difficult. You have to figure out how to pull the aces from the evolutionary discard pile. As professor Bob Full at U.C. Berkeley explained in our first phone conversation, that's also why scientists now use the term "bio-inspiration" rather than the more commonly known term "biomimicry." Biologists and engineers are not looking to simply mimic nature, because there are all kinds of dead ends and redundancies in natural systems that would be pointless to recreate in an optimized, man-made piece of technology. One of the examples he gave me is a kind of grasshopper that if you were to copy it, you would copy neurons that go to nothing, they don't connect to any muscles, and that's because during evolution the adults lost their ability to fly. The neurons going to the muscles are still there, but the muscles aren't there anymore. No need to copy that, right?

So what a biomimeticist does is look to nature to find plants & animals with remarkable performance abilities, and studies their adaptations for inspiration to design something new. For example, if you want to make a tiny robot that can fly, then look at the best fliers. If you want to design a blade that moves quickly through fluids, or an Olympic swimsuit that minimizes drag, then look to the most efficient swimmers. Now that's what I call "intelligent design!"

Watch the Bio-Inspiration: Nature as Muse television story report online.

Imagine your dream college:

A green campus with a swan-filled lake to dream by and shady spots to sit and contemplate, classrooms with state of the art sound, dynamic classmates, organic and delicious food, shade-grown coffee, vibrant music and festive gatherings, small classes led by industry experts and large lectures led by industry heroes who create rapt, teary and inspired students. Now imagine that everything is focused on your favorite subject matter (and mine): nature and the environment. Wake up! It isn't a dream, Friends. It is Bioneers, a conference happening this October 17-19 at The Marin Civic Center.

Always ahead of the curve, Bioneers presents cutting edge and ingenious ideas and concepts in a field that is blasting off, even in the mainstream. It focuses on creative solutions to social and environmental challenges that honor natural systems and explore beyond what we all thought was possible.

Founded in 1990 by Kenny Ausubel, the Bioneers is not only live in San Rafael, but beamed to 18 communities across the country simultaneously, exposing a national community to the innovation and excitement of the event.

Over the past 8 years of being a Bioneer, I have learned that mushrooms might save the world and that Biomimicry was in action when a man who found a cocklebur stuck to his sock invented Velcro. I have witnessed Oakland Zoo youth in state of awe while attending Bioneers Youth Initiative programs, and have stood shaking in a clapping ovation, more thunderous and elated than any rock concert. I have delved deep into watersheds, woman's leadership and the wonders of the web of life. I have been schooled in green building, green food systems, green arts and green, global challenges that push humans to use their imaginations to their full capacity.

I am missing Bioneers this year (not complaining, I will be with Gorillas in Rwanda) and missing it inspired me to encourage others to attend in my place.

My favorite thing about attending Bioneers is that I leave with more than information. I leave the conference armed with a notebook full of my own ideas and the empowerment and confidence to see some of them through. And after spending three days with hundreds of super kind, wicked smart, amazingly dedicated Do-ers, I leave my dream campus with a degree in hope. Just go!