We’ve discussed in this forum, on a number of occasions, the Biomimetic effort. As the inspiration for our reflective displays, Biomimicry is a field we’re passionate about and one we work with business, government and educational organizations to promote. A prime example of this collaboration was our sponsorship of UC Berkeley-based seminar titled “How Would Nature Do That?” which focused on empowering a new generation of scientists to seek solutions from nature.

As the students of UC Berkeley converged back on campus this semester (Spring 2011), a new course taught by Tom McKeag titled, "How Would Nature Do That?" appeared in their elective offerings from the College of Natural Resources. The course is focused on biomimicry, the study of nature to find solutions that are typically both more resource efficient and environmentally sustainable than standard solutions.

Novelist and non-fiction author Paula DiPerna is a strategic environmental and philanthropic policy advisor, an insider in the new era of digital publishing and a personal friend. For an insider’s viewpoint, I asked her to offer her impressions on the recently completed Tools of Change for Publishing Conference 2011. Opinions expressed here are her own, and I welcome the dialogue.

Change is happening. There is no going back.

Now, more than ever, publishers are facing the reality that an industry defined for decades by the printed page has an increasingly digital future.

This past Tuesday (11/30), I was named Marketing/MARCOM Leader of the Year at the PR News PR People