The Truth About Scientific Approaches in Nature-Inspired Innovation
Nature has long been a source of insight for innovators seeking technical (and sustainable) solutions to human challenges. Yet as this field grows, we're witnessing varying levels of scientific rigour in how natural systems are studied and applied. Let's explore how different approaches serve different purposes and how to maintain scientific integrity while delivering real-world impact.
When Marketing Overshadows Science
Walk into any sustainability conference today and you'll hear impressive-sounding claims about "billions of years of R&D by nature", "universal principles of life.” or “nature’s genius.” These catchy phrases make for great headlines, but they often mask a troubling lack of scientific understanding.
Some consultancies package oversimplified frameworks as universal solutions, reducing complex biological and ecological relationships to bullet points and checkboxes. While this makes for attractive presentations, it can lead to fundamental misunderstandings of how evolution and the living world actually functions.
There will inevitably be arguments that biomimicry, biomimetics, bionics, bioniks, bio-inspired design, and nature-inspired solutions are all fundamentally different concepts. However, our extensive research and analysis show that this is not the case at all. In practice, these various terms are frequently used interchangeably—they are indeed synonymous in their meaning and application.
We have observed a variety of methods, practices and disciplines active in related spaces. By focusing on the commonalities to create innovation, we aim to bring equilibrium to our ecosystem. We aim to bring this together in one innovation space, nature-inspired innovation.
Desktop research of the use of common terminology from the report “The State of Nature-inspired Innovation in the UK” by MacCowan and Nadathur (2021)
“Nature-inspired innovation is an interdisciplinary collaboration of biology and technology that solves practical problems by translating the abstracted models of biological systems into solutions. Living organisms have evolved well-adapted structures and materials over a geologic time-scale through natural selection. Looking to nature has given rise to multiple new technologies focusing on biomechanics, functional morphology, biological processes, anatomy, biochemistry and systems biology, from nano to macroscales.”
Different Approaches for Different Needs
Deep Tech Development
In biotechnology and materials science, rigorous scientific analysis of biological mechanisms proves essential. This approach requires detailed understanding of specific natural processes at molecular or cellular levels. For instance, studying spider silk's molecular structure has led to breakthrough materials, while understanding photosynthetic mechanisms advances solar technology development.
Strategic Innovation
When addressing broader systemic challenges, combining scientific understanding with systems thinking becomes valuable. This approach examines how natural systems manage resources, handle information, and maintain resilience across different scales. It requires understanding both specific mechanisms and their broader ecological context.
Current Challenges in the Field
Some consultancies package oversimplified frameworks as universal solutions, reducing complex ecological relationships to bullet points and checkboxes. While this makes for attractive presentations, it often misrepresents how natural systems actually function.
Consider claims about nature's "solutions." Natural systems exhibit various responses to environmental pressures, resulting from historical contingencies and local conditions. What functions in one context might be completely maladaptive in another.
The Scientific Integrity Crisis
The field faces several critical challenges:
Lack of Validation
Many widely-used frameworks and methodologies haven't undergone peer review or scientific validation. They're promoted through marketing materials rather than academic publications, making it difficult to assess their scientific merit.
Oversimplification
Complex ecological relationships are often reduced to simple metaphors that ignore crucial context. This can lead to misapplication of natural principles and potentially harmful solutions.
Missing Metrics
Without quantifiable metrics and clear documentation, it's impossible to verify claims of success or learn from failures. This lack of measurement standards undermines the field's credibility.
“We’ve arranged a society on science and technology in which nobody understands anything about science and technology, and this combustible mixture of ignorance and power sooner or later is going to blow up in our faces. I mean, who is running the science and technology in a democracy if the people don’t know anything about it? Science is more than a body of knowledge, it’s a way of thinking. ”
G. Lecointre, Professor of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle noted this in the paper, Revisiting Nature’s Unifying Patterns (Lecointre, G. et al, 2023).
Scientific Language and Nature
“Nature" should not be used as an active agent or subject in scientific statements.
Using nature as a subject perpetuates inaccurate assumptions about the living world.
The concept of "nature-otherness" incorrectly separates humans from nature.
Common Misconceptions
Attributing human characteristics to nature (like "parsimony" or "intelligence") is incorrect.
Logic is an observer's characteristic, not a feature of natural phenomena.
Using terms like "natural strategies" or "designs" creates misleading metaphors.
Fossils are not “failures” but are part of the evolutionary process.
Evolution and Natural Selection
Natural processes work opposite to human design:
Nature operates through random variation and selection.
Most organisms don't survive the selection process.
Successful forms emerge by chance, not design.
Patterns in Nature
The term "pattern" can be misleading when discussing biological principles.
Patterns in nature are influenced by:
Mathematical principles.
Physical principles.
Chemical processes.
Biological factors.
Scientific Understanding
Bioinspiration should be based on understanding evolutionary processes.
The success of bioinspired design requires proper comprehension of biological principles.
Avoiding personification of nature leads to better scientific understanding.
Building a Better Approach
How can practitioners ensure their work maintains scientific integrity while delivering practical value? Here's our roadmap:
1. Start with Science
Every project should begin with a thorough review of relevant scientific literature. Understanding the mechanisms behind natural phenomena is crucial - examining what occurs, how it occurs, and under what conditions.
2. Document Everything
Maintain detailed records of methodologies, assumptions, and outcomes. This includes both successes and failures - often, we learn more from understanding why something didn't work than from our successes.
3. Measure What Matters
Develop and use quantifiable metrics to assess outcomes. This might include energy efficiency improvements, material reduction, or system resilience measures. The key is having concrete data to support claims.
4. Embrace Complexity
Rather than oversimplifying biological systems, acknowledge and work with their complexity. This means understanding that responses involve multiple compromises and that context matters enormously.
The Regenerative Challenge
Recent trends show many practitioners pivoting toward "regenerative futures" and "regenerative development," yet these approaches often lack fundamental ecological understanding. While these frameworks promise transformation and systemic change, they frequently miss critical ecological engineering principles and implementation mechanisms.
Key Concerns:
Many regenerative practitioners lack a deep understanding of ecological systems and evolutionary processes.
Ecosystem services frameworks often oversimplify complex ecological relationships.
There's a concerning gap between regenerative rhetoric and ecological engineering capability.
Claims about "systemic change" often lack concrete implementation methods.
Implementation Issues:
Ecological engineering requires precise technical knowledge and understanding of ecosystem functions. However, many regenerative approaches focus on high-level concepts and "mindset shifts" rather than developing this crucial technical expertise. This creates a dangerous gap between aspirational goals and practical capability.
Scientific Foundations:
Genuine ecological engineering demands the following (from Mitsch and Jorgensen, 2004):
Ecosystem structure & function are determined by forcing functions of the system;
Energy inputs to the ecosystems and available storage of the ecosystem is limited;
Ecosystems are open and dissipative systems (not thermodynamic balance of energy, matter, entropy, but spontaneous appearance of complex, chaotic structure);
Attention to a limited number of governing/controlling factors is most strategic in preventing pollution or restoring ecosystems;
Ecosystem have some homeostatic capability that results in smoothing out and depressing the effects of strongly variable inputs;
Match recycling pathways to the rates of ecosystems and reduce pollution effects;
Design for pulsing systems wherever possible;
Ecosystems are self-designing systems;
Processes of ecosystems have characteristic time and space scales that should be accounted for in environmental management;
Biodiversity should be championed to maintain an ecosystem's self design capacity;
Ecotones, transition zones, are as important for ecosystems as membranes for cells;
Coupling between ecosystems should be utilized wherever possible;
The components of an ecosystem are interconnected, interrelated, and form a network; consider direct as well as indirect efforts of ecosystem development;
An ecosystem has a history of development;
Ecosystems and species are most vulnerable at their geographical edges;
Ecosystems are hierarchical systems and are parts of a larger landscape;
Physical and biological processes are interactive, it is important to know both physical and biological interactions and to interpret them properly;
Eco-technology requires a holistic approach that integrates all interacting parts and processes as far as possible;
Information in ecosystems is stored in structures.
Looking Forward
The future of nature-inspired innovation depends on maintaining high scientific standards while delivering practical value. This requires a fundamental shift in how we approach our work:
Replace marketing rhetoric with scientific evidence.
Prioritise peer review over promotional materials.
Document limitations and uncertainties.
Share failures as learning opportunities.
Maintain transparency in methods and outcomes.
Our Call to Action
As practitioners, we have a responsibility to ensure our work advances through scientific understanding rather than marketing appeal. This means:
Questioning claims that seem too good to be true.
Demanding evidence beyond case studies and testimonials.
Supporting efforts to establish scientific standards.
Contributing to peer-reviewed research.
Maintaining transparency about what works and what doesn't.
The path forward requires courage - to acknowledge limitations, to question accepted practices, and to stand up for scientific integrity even when it's uncomfortable. But this is the only way to ensure nature-inspired innovation delivers on its promise of creating truly sustainable solutions.
The stakes are too high for anything less than absolute scientific rigor. Our planet's challenges demand real solutions, not just compelling stories. Let's ensure our field rises to meet this challenge.
Natural systems exhibit fascinating mechanisms and patterns developed through evolutionary processes. Our work must reflect this complexity while maintaining unwavering commitment to scientific truth.
Hi, we're Biomimicry Innovation Lab. We partner with innovators and leaders in the built environment to turn ideas into reality, drawing inspiration from transformative solutions in the living world.
Our approach - Combining the latest science with our cross-industry knowledge to uncover your project challenges to work with you to develop technical, responsible solutions.
