Inspired by animal species: biomimicry in participatory research

Abstract

Inspired by the rich tapestry of nature, biomimicry encourages designers, engineers, and researchers to draw inspiration from the natural world to create technological solutions. However, little is known about the usage of biomimicry in participatory research involving local people without technical expertise. In this paper, we present two case studies to explore how performative biomimicry is when applied in a participatory research process with local people of different ages. To this end, we conducted two different case studies and asked our participants to analyze the characteristics of different animal species to design an interactive prototype that addresses a specific task. Both case studies demonstrated promising potential for biomimicry, as the participants drew inspiration from animal species to develop functional prototypes and narratives that resonate on an emotional level. Finally, we discuss the benefits of integrating biomimicry in participatory research and how this method could be used to promote social change and transformation in the society, for example, in STEM education, digital literacy, and environmental awareness.