In 2011, Smith & Fong was invited to Sichuan, China and to Haiti, both areas hard hit by devastating earthquakes. We were invited to help explore new models for sustainability and job creation. Bamboo was the focus of these discussions on the complex connections between natural environments and human needs. We continue to be connected to the discussion on how bamboo in these areas can be part of the solution. This experience found us on a panel discussion on bamboo and sustainable design for Haiti at Parsons The New School in New York this February. In 2011, Smith & Fong spoke at Oregon State University’s School of Forestry, one of the top schools on forestry in the United States.  We presented a Bamboo Forestry 101A class to their forestry students and faculty interested in alternative wood sources. We will be back there in this fall to present “Manufacturing with Bamboo”, a companion course to Bamboo Forestry.  Smith & Fong believes in sharing knowledge to improve the understanding of bamboo’s potential to address social and environmental challenges.