Life’s Principles in Biomimicry 3: Being Locally Attuned and Responsive Part III
Previously, we shared two of the strategies of this life’s principle: leveraging cyclical processes and using readily available materials and energy. In this post, we share two more exciting ones.
The first is using feedback loops. A positive feedback loop is when one variable increases, leading another to increase too, or move in the same direction. One example from nature is the increasing surface temperature of the ocean. When the average sea surface temperature increases to above 26 degrees Celsius, it leads to an increase in the amount of atmospheric water vapor over the ocean. This vapor feeds the weather systems that produce heavy rain and cyclones. Since the temperatures are increasing over the past years due to climate change, the rains are heavier, the hailstones could be more frequent and bigger, and cyclones or hurricanes are becoming more intense, frequent and larger.
At work, we could enact feedback loops by communicating more frequently and keeping the messaging simple and clear. This helps avoid miscommunication and/or stress, especially when team members work remotely. Alternatively, in a team setting in an office, we could meet regularly for updates to avoid duplication and increase efficiency.
A personal example is to monitor your tiredness or stress level and time your breaks accordingly. The more stressed, the longer the breaks you would need to recharge. The more rested we are, the more productive we can be.
A negative feedback loop is when one variable goes up, and another comes down. For instance, when we are overheated and sweating, our sweat cools us down through evaporative cooling of that sweat from our skin. This brings our body temperature down. When we are too cold, our hair stands on end (gooseflesh), trapping warmth to try and warm our bodies back up.
The second strategy is to cultivate cooperative relationships. Cooperation is paramount in nature. The Emperor Penguins have bodily structures, such as special feathers that provide insulation, to help maintain body heat in their cold habitats. However, in their Antarctic home they need extra help to stay warm in extreme winters. So they huddle together and then take turns to stay in the middle then move to the outside of the huddle. In this way, everyone gets to be warm for part of the time, and to assist their group part of the time.
In specialist teams where there is no administrative support, team members can take turns to do paperwork and allow each other to practice their individual areas of expertise. This allows cooperative relationship and supports other biomimicry’s life’s principles such as efficiency, which we will look at later in this series.
In our personal lives, we could make good friends who give support and positive energy when we need it and we can reciprocate when they need support. Such a cooperative relationship also helps build resilience in difficult times such as illness or if there’s a disaster.
So, the four strategies for the life’s principle of being locally attuned and responsive are: leveraging cyclical processes; using readily available materials and energy; using feedback loops; and cultivating cooperative relationships.
Share with us your examples of how these strategies help you – let’s learn together!
