For three months in 2014, 39 volunteers spent more than 450 hours learning how to develop scientific content and technical illustrations as part of AskNature’s community-sourced contribution pilot. The goals of the pilot were to figure out how best to solicit credible data from community members while providing them with an experiential way to learn about biomimicry.

Here’s what content contributor Allie Miller had to say about the experience.

Who are you? Tell the world about yourself!

I am currently pursuing a master of industrial design at Georgia Tech and previously received a bachelor in studio art from Mount Holyoke College. Prior to Tech, I worked in a variety of clinical and public health environments and became interested in the intersections between health, the environment, and other sociological factors. Looking forward, I hope to use design as a tool to improve public access to healthier products and environments.

How did your volunteer experience benefit you?

My volunteer experience with AskNature and the Biomimicry Institute has been significant in helping me improve my writing skills–specifically, scientific writing. Additionally, it has allowed me to access an array of biomimicry and design tools that I hope to use in my academic research.

What was your favorite part about volunteering?

My favorite part about volunteering with AskNature was being connected to like-minded students and professionals. I always knew that nature was awe-inspiring, but I never had the vocabulary to articulate how. Not only do I now have that vocabulary, but I am also linked to a network of individuals who carry a similar level of appreciation.

How did you hear about AskNature and the Biomimicry Institute?

I was talking with a former roommate about how I wished there was a field that combined my love of design with science, and also had larger humanitarian applications. She said, “Allie, you’re describing biomimicry!” She then told me about Janine Benyus’ original book, which ultimately led me to the Biomimicry Institute and AskNature. The rest is history.

How did your volunteer experience further your understanding of biomimicry?

Before volunteering with AskNature, I knew very little, if anything, about biomimicry. Now, I feel equipped to not only understand the information, but to serve as a competent spokesperson for the biomimicry community. It is also exciting to be working on strategies, and then see products or systems in real life that have a foundation in biomimicry.

What is unique about volunteering with us?

What’s most unique about volunteering for the Biomimicry Institute is that your volunteer work has a direct impact on the AskNature community. Whether it’s illustrating or curating, the success of individual strategies lies in your ability to extract the most critical information in a succinct manner, and then turn that into something that will be both engaging and accessible to a larger audience. It’s a much higher level of responsibility than the average volunteer opportunity.