This video features the final lecture of the ecological design course, NR 288, taught by Dr. John H Todd. Dr. Todd is Research Professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and a Fellow at the Gund Institute For Ecological Economics. Ecological Design is taught each fall semester, followed by the Ecological Design Studio during the spring. Both courses explore the theory and practice of employing ecological knowledge to address urgent human and environmental problems, and are core courses in the Gund Certificate of Graduate Study in Ecological Design.

Dr. John H. Todd, President of Ocean Arks International, and pioneer of ecological engineering is the mind behind "Living Machines". Living Machines are ecosystems technologies which treat wastes and purify water with plants, animals and bacteria, rather than chemicals. Such "Machines" have earned three U.S. patents, have won numerous awards, and have been built or are being constructed in many cities, towns, villages and schools in a number of countries. John Todd and his wife Nancy Todd have published several books on ecological design and authored more than 200 technical and popular articles and essays on biology and planetary stewardship.