Bioinspiration as a method of problem-based STEM education: a case study with the COVID-19 crisis

Abstract

Bioinspiration is a promising lens for biology instruction as it allows the instructor to focus on current pressing problems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. From social distancing to oxygen stress, organisms have been tackling pandemic-related problems for millions of years. What can we learn from such diverse adaptations in our own applications? We use a seminar course on the COVID-19 crisis to illustrate bioinspiration as an approach to teaching biology content. We highlight three focal areas of the COVID crisis explored in the course (air filtration, medical interventions, and behavioral crises), each of which relates to core content from across biological disciplines (e.g., morphology, physiology, behavior). We also highlight several promising ideas, such as the nanostructure of butterfly wings informing the design of transparent masks. We conclude by stressing that for bio-inspired approaches to succeed, we must invest in basic research and systems that connect scientists across disparate fields.