High-Tech, High-Wisdom: What's the Nexus between Innovation, Nature and Wisdom?

"Life is additive, it builds to shape, while we carve things down, 96% waste and 4% product" -- Janine Benyus

Can we do better as leaders when we make decisions about what and how to innovate? Are we asking the potent questions that lead to real breakthroughs that don't end up causing harm to people and planet as an "unintended consequence" or negative "externality"?

According to Google’s English dictionary provided by Oxford Languages, externality has the following definition in economics:

Externalities can be positive, like the pollination of surrounding crops by bees kept for honey, or negative, like pollution caused by manufacturing facilities or commuting to work, or toxic chemical spill caused by improperly stored waste and plastic materials that end up in our rivers and oceans.

While some companies have started to measure their externalities and become more aware of their impacts, with a few ones already trying to mitigate them, this practice is still news to a great majority. Unfortunately, in R&D centers the practice of choosing to use only a safe subset of elements of the periodic table instead of all is far from being a priority!

What if we could be as inventive and creative with only the safe elements of the periodic table? Actually, this already happens in nature and there is science to back us up. The name of this practice is Biomimicry.

Janine Benyus , a biologist, author, and innovation consultant, popularized the term biomimicry in her 1997 book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Since then, a lot of material has been developed according to "life's principles", allowing design to benefit from this powerful lens that reveals the wisdom of nature.

If you are curious to learn more about how nature accomplishes functions of interest to us, check www.asknature.org, and listen to Briyah Institute 's podcast with Dr. Taryn Meade on the power of biomimicry in leadership and innovation.

If you care to develop your thinking and ability for decision-making that transcends current perceived limitations to innovate, count on Briyah Institute to ignite you with provoking relevant ideas and good practices at our upcoming 2-day immersive experience in Miami, on February 9th and 10th, 2024.

You will have the appropriate space to be challenged by experts in their fields, gathered to provide you with inspiring learning and opportunity to interact with other leaders, stretch and grow by working on yourself, and developing higher wisdom to face the challenges ahead in your career and in life.

I'm looking forward to reading your comments and meeting you in person in Miami.

Cheers,

Adriana Machado

Briyah Institute Founder