Biomimicry has changed so much for me. When I first fell in love with this practice and perspective as an undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz more than a decade ago, I knew it was a pathway that would guide the rest of my life. At the time, I had no idea what that meant – only that I felt so connected to and motivated by learning from nature that I had no other option than to build this into my future. I’ve since met so many people who have had a similar experience: biomimicry is an approach to problem-solving that is deeply humbling and hopeful. It feels a bit like coming home.
My path has not always been straightforward, and most of the time I am laying the stones as I go. I’ve worked at many different nonprofits, spent a wonderful few years in Arizona at The Biomimicry Center, and decided at some point to start a podcast – because why not? I had some biomimicry experience, a contact list of awesome guests, and there were so few podcasts in this field. All this to say: building biomimicry into your professional and personal life varies for everyone. It’s not just one certification or course or workshop, it’s a continued dedication to understanding how nature works and honing your method to translating those genius ideas. It requires lots of patience and persistence.
From my perspective, one of the most consistent challenges for this movement has been connecting with others and collaborating. Biomimicry cannot be done alone – it requires intentional cross-pollination, industries working together, and knowledge being shared. While many universities, companies, organizations, or networks often have a different platform and approach to activation, there has not been one main space for biomimics to access globally – until the AskNature Hive.
The Hive is an online community platform and knowledge hub for biomimicry, designed to bring together the global movement in one place to interact, engage, and support each other as we continue in our own individual ways to make the world a more life-friendly and regenerative place. What does that look like in action? The Hive includes special guest live conversations, biomimicry leaders sharing knowledge, spaces to meet and work with others, and challenges to continue your biomimicry learning. You get access to a great group of like-minded folks who are applying biomimicry in a variety of ways, curated content related to specific topics, and a direct link to the Institute and our network. In an effort to make this community even more accessible, we are very excited to announce the launch of a mobile app later this summer!
Ultimately, the Hive was launched to address this need for greater collective collaboration. It is a paid subscription-based platform, which helps to support the work of AskNature at-large and also creates a sense of commitment for the community. I joined the AskNature team as the Technical Program Manager in February, and have been diving into the important work of continuing to improve and develop the Hive as a space that folks find helpful and valuable. Just like an ecosystem takes time to grow, the seeds of the Hive have been planted and now we are tending to them and encouraging conditions conducive to life.
As the Hive Manager, it’s my responsibility to ensure that this space is useful and impactful. We are still in the early stages of building it out and adding more features, but as a biomimic, I am always thinking about how to incorporate lessons from nature in everything I do. For the Hive, this means continually adapting and evolving the space to the needs of the community. That’s why we have created a Hive feedback survey, to better understand what else would be helpful for you in this space. Whether you are already a member of the Hive or have not yet joined, our goal is to gather thoughts on features and functionality, and we greatly appreciate your time in filling this out.
If you are ready to become part of the Hive community (or just scope it out), you can get a month for free—use our code ONEMONTHFREE during checkout.
We have some fun events happening in July!
Welcome to Jurassic Plants with Riley Black: 7/10 at 1pm PT
Join bestselling, dino-loving author Riley Black for a trip back to that world, and see familiar tropes dissolve in the mist to reveal a vibrant land defined not by a few charismatic animals, but by an overwhelming multitude of plants, animals, and the dynamic relationships between them––relationships that continue to impact the world today, and can provide biomimics with a whole new array of inspirational models to learn from.
Social Swarm with Lily Urmann on 7/16 at 1pm PT
Join fellow biomimics from around the world for an informal networking session focused on community building and shared inspiration. This is a space to connect, exchange ideas, and spark collaborations grounded in our collective hope for a future shaped by nature’s wisdom. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your journey, come as you are—curious, creative, and committed to designing a better world together.
4th Friday Lit Club: Fuzz by Mary Roach with Miranda Berger on 7/25 at 1pm PT
In Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, Mary Roach explores the bizarre and often humorous world of human–animal conflict, from thieving monkeys to lethal tree falls, revealing how our systems clash with natural behavior. Her investigative journeys highlight the unintended consequences of rigid human infrastructure in a dynamic natural world—making it a surprisingly rich read for biomimicry thinkers. Rather than fighting nature, Roach’s stories suggest we might learn to redesign with it: creating waste systems, agricultural practices, and urban layouts inspired by the very species we try to keep out.
Lily Urmann is the Biomimicry Institute’s AskNature Hive Technical Manager who fell in love with the practice and perspective of learning from nature while observing the intricacies of our incredible world and reflecting on the solutions that surround. She received her Master’s in Biomimicry at Arizona State University, and Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from The University of California, Santa Cruz. Learn more about Lily, and the rest of the team here.
