A portal to the wisdom nature holds.
When we ask nature, first we quiet our human cleverness. Then we ask, and then we listen. The answer is the echo that bounces off of the land herself. With the solution in hand, we always end the circle by saying thank you.
Janine BenyusWhy Ask Nature now?
Because we can’t afford not to.
We have the innate potential to create a world that is harmonious, regenerative, and supports the well-being of all Life. As a young species, we are fortunate enough to have guidance to help us rise to this challenge. Our planet-mates, the fantastic meshwork of plants, animals, and microbes, have done billions of years of research and development. The time is now to collaborate globally to design this world for the future of all species. It begins by asking nature.
How Do You Use This Site?
You are the explorer of your own experience.
AskNature is a field guide to the natural world, designed to draw your eye to what we can learn from nature (not just what we can learn about it). Get your bearings and get ready to explore.
Who Asks Nature?
Everyone.
We exist to encourage everyone, everywhere to have a direct experience with nature that is founded on respect and curiosity. We have designed this tool to provide guidance to students, educators, engineers, scientists, designers, artists, naturalists, and those from yet to be defined disciplines. Our hope is that this is a homecoming for anyone on a journey to make the future better for all of our planetary neighbors.
How do you Ask Nature?
Quiet your cleverness.
We seek to rightsize our place on the planet by quieting our cleverness, so we can collaborate with Life on solutions.
Ask Nature a question.
Attune to the question that you seek the answer to, and Ask Nature how it would solve this challenge.
Observe and listen deeply.
Heighten the senses and see where an organism, living system, or universal pattern has adapted a strategy that inspires a model for emulation.
Apply wisdom to create a regenerative world.
Design with the principles of Life in mind and heart, so the solution is additive and inventive while staying within planetary boundaries.
Give thanks.
Always end each interaction with reverence and gratitude to the natural world.
What Are the 3 Essential Elements of Asking Nature?
1. Emulation
The attentive practice of learning from nature’s forms, processes, and ecosystems to guide human innovation and to create more regenerative design solutions.
2. Ethical Framework
A commitment to apply lessons learned from life’s systems in a manner that creates conditions conducive to life, and a recognition that we have a responsibility to conserve and protect that which we are learning from.
3. (Re)Connection
Acknowledgement that humans and our activities are not separate from nature, but are a part of nature, affecting and affected by all other organisms within Earth’s interconnected systems. As a practice, reconnecting with nature encourages us to observe and spend time in nature to better understand how life works so that we may more effectively emulate biological strategies in our designs.
Our Team
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AskNature is a project of the Biomimicry Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the practice of looking to nature for inspiration to solve design problems in a regenerative way.
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Chief Editor Andrew Howley
Program Director Camilo Garzón
Technical Manager, AskNature Hive Lily Urmann
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Science Writers & Editors
Ellie Banwell
Andrew Carstens
Heather Dove
Elyse DeFranco
Camilo Garzón
Anika Hazra
Mary Hoff
Katie Krupin
Jeanette Lim
Lonny Lippsett
Alexandra Ralevski
Sherri Ritter
Erin Spencer
Sam Stier
Leon Wang
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Biomimicry Reviewers
Christa Avampato
Christian Delacruz
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Photo Editors
Malkah Bell
Marie McGrory
Kristen McNicholas
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Illustrators
Johannes Fuchs
Emily Harrington
Gretchen Hooker
Morgane Rae
Holly Sullivan
Mesa Schumacher
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Technical Support
Michiko Swiggs
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Design & Development
Civilization