“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”-Pablo Picasso

Even before disaster recovery, philosophers have contemplated beauty- in both nature and art- evaluating the purpose behind it. 

However, in the modern day, we often consider art a firmly “impractical” field, reserved exclusively for those with enough money, privilege, or time to enjoy it. 

But what if art is more than this?

Maybe art is a necessity, especially when everything else has been lost. 

Give me two minutes, and I’ll tell you why. 

Why Does Aesthetic Appeal Matter In Disaster Recovery?

According to the book Art and Disaster Resilience, small changes in certain components of nonlinear systems can cause stability to disappear, which leads to big changes in the overall system. 

Through artistic mediums, artists can change how these changes are digested by the viewer. In fact, public exhibitions of art can transform how people create new realities out of the destruction they experience through unforeseeable disasters. 

Combining the power of art to transform our reality with the power of engineering to rebuild our built environment, is the key to putting this into practice. 

The question, then, is what that intersection looks like. 

The current vocabulary around “reconstruction” after natural disasters mostly revolves around physical reconstruction. What we are talking about here, though, is the reconstruction of community and mental health alongside physical structures. 

There have been several successful examples of this thus far, such as the Fundred Dollar Bill project, Sandy Storyline, Yappeshi Matsuri, and the Arts In Recovery organization. 

But what makes them successful?

Social capital.

Allow me to explain.

What is social capital?

While post-disaster recovery processes are often considered opportunities for physical reconstruction, they are also opportunities to revitalize the local economy, upgrading quality of life and community ties. 

Social capital– which describes the trust, social norms, and networks which affect social and economic activity- is at the heart of this. 

Why? 

Because trust and connection in a community makes it easier to collaboratively recover and exchange resources for the overall benefit of the community. Not only is this reflected in how fast physical spaces return to normal, but also in the strength of community ties after a disaster. 

However, the risk of extreme natural disasters is increasing, and there are still gaps in our responses. 

The good news?

Innovators like you can use the gaps I am about to list to make communities more adaptable and resilient to natural disasters in the future. 

Gaps In Disaster Response & Recovery

Addressing the interdisciplinary community-based problems that arise after natural disasters requires interdisciplinary community-based solutions. 

These are questions not only for engineers and city planners, but also artists, musicians, and storytellers. 

How do we rebuild, not just physically reconstructing our buildings, but nurturing our collective consciousness as a community? 

#1: Youth-Friendly Spaces For Disaster Recovery 

Typically, research surrounding disaster recovery has focused on supporting adults. However, this misses out on the specific struggles of children and teenagers, and their journey to recovery after natural disasters. 

However, research from 2017 has revealed specific strategies that, if implemented, could improve the support available to youth. Some of these strategies include peer to peer support, and creating stability in home and school environments. In the 2017 study, students voiced a need for not only physical and psychological support, but also the symbolic need (e.g. hope, normalcy, prosperity) that are difficult to reinforce after a disaster. 

How do we fill these gaps? 

This is up to problem-solvers like you to explore, but here are some questions to get you started. 

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

• How can we design temporary shelters or communal spaces that offer safety while incorporating art to create a sense of familiarity and comfort for youth?
• What are key cultural elements in art and engineering that resonate with youth in affected regions, and how can we incorporate these into disaster recovery efforts to foster resilience?
• What forms of art (e.g., music, murals, theater) could be integrated into engineering projects to promote emotional healing and a sense of belonging for youth in temporary living spaces?
• How can engineering and design techniques be used to create mobile or modular art spaces that support the continuity of community and cultural expression for displaced youth?
• What roles can youth play in the collaborative design process, allowing them to co-create solutions that reflect their unique needs and perspectives?
• How can we ensure that our collaborative projects remain sustainable and adaptable, providing long-term benefits as youth progress through different stages of recovery?
• What metrics or feedback systems can we design to assess the effectiveness of our projects in fostering both physical safety and psychological recovery for young people?

#2: Using Music To Shape Disaster Response

Music has played a significant role in disaster response, often acting as a tool for community healing, fundraising, and remembrance. 

Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, music gatherings fostered solidarity and resilience, while local folk arts like matsuri festivals (traditional celebrations with dance and song) were revived to restore a sense of normalcy and cultural identity. 

These performances connected residents with their heritage, helping them process the trauma and rebuild their social fabric through shared cultural expression​.

Another example of music in action is after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when Linkin Park founded “Music for Relief” to leverage music’s influence in raising awareness and funds for disaster-stricken areas. 

This organization has since responded to over 25 global natural disasters, using music-driven campaigns to gather support and plant over a million trees as part of environmental recovery efforts.

After Hurricane Sandy, musicians and artists collaborated to capture survivors’ stories and create interactive installations to commemorate their experiences. 

This initiative, blending music, stories, and art, allowed affected individuals to express their personal challenges while fostering civil conversations around community values and future preparedness. 

It shows that music and storytelling can serve as cathartic, communal spaces for processing disaster experiences​.

So what is left to address?

Here are a few. 

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

• What specific musical traditions or sounds are culturally meaningful to the community, and how can we incorporate these elements to foster resilience and a sense of identity?
• What role can music play in community rituals or gatherings during disaster recovery, and how can we facilitate these gatherings to support collective healing?
• How can we collaborate with local musicians and youth to co-create music sessions or programs that are therapeutic and representative of the community’s resilience and experiences?
• In what ways can we integrate music therapy principles into disaster response initiatives to provide psychological support to children and young adults?
• How can music be used as a symbolic tool to commemorate and honor lost lives or damaged heritage, and how might this influence our design and delivery methods?

#3: Developing Preventative & Predictive Measures

Consider this: effective early warning systems can save lives by providing communities with the crucial time needed to evacuate or reinforce structures before a disaster strikes. 

On the other hand, preventative strategies, such as environmental planning and infrastructure development, can significantly reduce the damage a natural disaster does to a community​.

The urgency to prioritize these measures grows as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. 

By combining predictive data with preventative planning, communities can better protect lives, reduce economic losses, and lower post-disaster recovery costs.

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

• What early-warning signs of natural disasters are often missed or underutilized, and how could technology enhance the detection of these signs?
• How can predictive models be improved to factor in the unique environmental and social vulnerabilities of specific regions, ensuring more tailored and effective responses?
• What role can community-driven data collection and local knowledge play in creating more accurate and responsive disaster prediction systems?
• What are the social and economic barriers preventing communities from adopting existing preventative technologies, and how might solutions address these barriers?
• How can solutions be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, ensuring rapid deployment in at-risk areas?
• How can solutions prioritize the most vulnerable populations, such as those in underserved or remote areas, in both the prediction and prevention of disasters?
• In what ways can solutions promote sustainable practices to address underlying causes of disaster vulnerability, such as deforestation or urban development in flood-prone areas?
• How can data on past natural disasters be utilized to create a global network of best practices, allowing regions to learn from each other and develop faster, more effective preventative solutions?

How to Get Started/Conclusion

Now the question is, how can you get started on applying these concepts and questions to your innovation?

Here are three easy steps you can take in less than 15 minutes to begin problem-solving now:

1. (8 minutes) Pen & Paper:
   1. Write one of the “gap” questions at the top of a piece of paper. 
   2. Identify down 3 facts you know already about the problem (that are relevant to the questions). 
   3. Note down 3 facts you would need to know to understand the problem fully. 
   4. Note down 3 “What if…” questions about this problem.
2. (5 minutes) The First 3 Steps:
   1. Determine the first 3 steps you can take to learn more about the problem and how you can address it given your constraints (e.g. time, money) and skills (i.e. What do you do very well? What do you have a certification or degree in?)
3. (2 minutes) Schedule:
   1. Put the first 3 steps of your plan into your calendar!

Thought To Action

1. (5min. Or Less) Support Mental Health through Art Donations: Consider donating to organizations that bring music, art, and creative therapy to affected areas. Programs like Music for Relief use art as a form of therapy for trauma survivors, helping to rebuild mental resilience in disaster-stricken communities
2. (15min. Or Less) Sign Petitions to Support Policy Changes: Advocacy can play a major role in disaster prevention and response. In just a few minutes, you can sign petitions aimed at improving disaster preparedness, strengthening local infrastructure, or protecting disaster-prone communities from environmental risks. Websites like Change.org or local government platforms are good places to start.
3. (30min. Or Less) Send Encouragement Cards: Write a few words of encouragement in cards or notes to be sent to individuals or families affected by a disaster. Organizations like Letters of Hope often organize these kinds of drives, making it easy to join in from anywhere.
4. (1 Hour Or Less) Create a Care Package: Some organizations accept donations of specific care package items like hygiene kits, blankets, or food. Spend an hour assembling one or two care packages and mail them to an organization coordinating disaster response, such as the Red Cross or local food banks.
5. (More Than 1 Hour) Engage in Virtual Volunteerism: Many recovery organizations seek virtual volunteers to help with tasks like graphic design, social media, or website support. If you’re comfortable with digital tools, you can offer your time to support these projects remotely, helping to amplify their impact without needing to be on-site

Sources

Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (2020). Art and disaster resilience perspectives. Retrieved from https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/63727113/Chapter_12_Paton_Johnston_Disaster_Resilience_2ed20200624-1250-185tpg5-libre.pdf

Borum, R. (2017). Social science approaches to building community resilience in disaster response and recovery. University of Delaware. Retrieved from https://udspace.udel.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/8fcc8535-9d52-4ad4-a674-c33d6475cb95/content

Cox, R. S., Scannell, L., Heykoop, C., Tobin-Gurley, J., & Peek, L. (2017). Understanding youth disaster recovery: The vital role of people, places, and activities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 22, 249–256. Retrieved from https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/publications/11_2017_Cox_Scannell_Heykoop_Tobin_Peek.pdf

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). Disaster response and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/disaster-response-and-recovery

Akasaka, H., & Uekusa, S. (2017). Disaster education in Japan and Sweden: Comparative perspective on the school system. Retrieved from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1094436/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Yokohama National University. (2018). Building resilience through local business partnerships in disaster risk reduction. Journal of Disaster Research, 40(2), 42–56. Retrieved from https://www.cba.ynu.ac.jp/gakkai/kaisi/pdf/40-2-6.pdf

Smith, G. P., & Wenger, D. (2007). Sustainable disaster recovery: Operationalizing an existing agenda. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 25(3), 235-256. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gavin-Smith-10/publication/226836921_Sustainable_Disaster_Recovery_Operationalizing_An_Existing_Agenda/links/5af5ace20f7e9b026bceb0d1/Sustainable-Disaster-Recovery-Operationalizing-An-Existing-Agenda.pdf

Borum, R. (2017). Social science approaches to building community resilience in disaster response and recovery. University of Delaware. Retrieved from https://udspace.udel.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/8fcc8535-9d52-4ad4-a674-c33d6475cb95/content

Cox, R. S., Scannell, L., Heykoop, C., Tobin-Gurley, J., & Peek, L. (2017). Community and youth resilience through social science research. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=a1b18cd25b71aa4183cb7125b877b9c2bdf210b6

Kant, I. (1785). Fundamental principles of the metaphysics of morals. Retrieved from https://iep.utm.edu/kantaest/#SH2d

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2019). Natural disasters. Our World in Data. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/natural-disasters

Forecast Public Art. (n.d.). How artists help communities heal after disasters. Retrieved from https://forecastpublicart.org/how-artists-help-communities-heal-after-disasters/

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2024). Art and community resilience: FEMA builds connections between art, culture, and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240131/art-community-resilience-fema-builds-connections-between-art-culture-and

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“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Intro

Decision-making based on data is one of the most universally demanded skills of our time. 

Every day, we face the decision to act, speak, or drive change in a particular direction. It can be as small as what you choose to eat for lunch, or as big as whether you choose to follow one career versus another. 

What drives these decisions is often a mix of “gut instinct”, emotion, 

#1: Using Descriptive vs. Inferential Statistics in Decision-Making

Descriptive statistics summarize data, while inferential statistics help make predictions or decisions based on data.

One common fallacy among non-statisticians is to confuse statistics that generalize about a population with statistics that have already been measured and established. 

Imagine walking into a restaurant. You wonder what you will order. 

If someone handed you the menu, you would see a clear outline of everything available. This is like descriptive statistics, giving you an exact picture of the sample population. 

If you looked around, without a menu, and saw some people eating salads, you might infer that the restaurant orders salad. That is like inferential statistics. 

But why does it matter to you?

We are exposed to statistical claims every day, both in professional settings and personal life. How we understand these claims directly affects how we respond to them. 

If you want to respond better, start with your interpretation. Simple as that.

#2: Beware of Sampling Bias 

Ensure that your sample accurately represents the population to avoid skewed results.

Sampling bias is one type of selection bias. Often, it occurs when a statistical study selects its subjects in a non-random way. 

Importantly, this is not necessarily due to negligence. It can also take place whenever there are limited subjects available. 

For example, imagine you are in that restaurant we mentioned, and you wanted to know what other customers recommend you order. 

If you are only sampling customers in the restaurant right now, your responses will be biased. What if the usual chef was sick that day and the replacement messed up their orders? What if the lunch menu is terrible, but the breakfast menu is incredible? 

If you only sample other customers who are physically in the restaurant with you at the same time, you will not get an accurate understanding of the best item to order.  

Before jumping to conclusions based on other data in your life, consider this: you curate your own sample population; we all do. 

What perspectives are you missing and how do you fill that gap?

#3: Understand P-values 

A low p-value indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, but it doesn’t prove the alternative hypothesis.

First things first. What on earth are “p-values”, “null hypotheses”, and “alternative hypotheses”?

Essentially, a p-value tells you how likely it is for an event to come about as a coincidence. Low p-values suggest that the occurrence is unlikely to occur by chance, and vice versa. 

When evaluating data, a null hypothesis is the starting assumption that there is no causal effect in what you’re studying.

The alternate hypothesis is the opposite of the null hypothesis and suggests a causal relationship in what you are studying.

The goal of an experiment is usually to either provide evidence against the null hypothesis or fail to find enough evidence to reject it, thus supporting the alternate hypothesis.

This is important for everyone to understand, as it highlights the important fact that not all results from data suggest causation. 

Only the statistically significant results. 

Speaking of causation…

#4: Decision-Making Based On Correlation vs. Causation 

Correlation shows a relationship between two variables, but it does not imply causation. 

The human brain is conditioned to recognize patterns, and in many ways this is thanks to its causal structure. 

This is to say, we look for causation, not correlation, so it will be a perpetual struggle to untangle these from each other. 

Nevertheless, we must try. 

Identifying when correlation and causation are each at play is the key to thinking clearly about data-driven problem-solving, and solution analysis. 

Consider this Washington Post article, which explores the correlation between crime and police spending. 

Ultimately, the article concludes that there is “no correlation nationally between spending and crime rates”. However, causal research has shown that having more police typically leads to a reduction in crime. 

See how easy it is to make this mistake, and the difference it makes? 

#5: Beware of Confirmation Bias In Your Decision-Making 

Avoid interpreting data in a way that confirms your preconceptions.

One quote commonly attributed to Stephen Covey is that “we see the world as we are”. 

When using any data to make conclusions, it is vital to remember this. 

The fact of the matter is this: statistics are not untouched by human psychology. 

Actually, the human lens is exactly what gives any set of data true meaning. Because of that, it’s usually not “What is the data telling us?”, but rather “What do we want to hear?” The danger comes when what we want to hear from the data is aligned with what it is telling us. 

Identifying this bias is important, not just for our self-awareness as individuals, but as scientists, policy-makers, journalists, business owners, and consumers.

By uncovering our own confirmation bias, we will be more open to identifying new patterns and developing creative new approaches. 

Beyond this, addressing confirmation bias also serves to promote open-mindedness, which is crucial in a world of decision-makers faced with high levels of polarization. 

To Sum It Up…

Understanding statistics is no longer a task just for researchers or analysts—it’s essential for anyone looking to make informed decisions, whether in business, healthcare, education, or everyday life. 

By mastering these five concepts, you can approach data more critically, ask better questions, and ultimately make decisions that are not only data-backed but also rooted in accuracy and fairness. 

Thought to Action 

1. Diversity: Create diversity in any sample, survey, or research you conduct. Additionally, make sure to check for diversity behind the research you review as an outsider.  
2. Dive Deeper: Instead of assuming a specific cause for an event, ask “What else could be going on here?”
3. Challenge Yourself: Approach claims with a beginner’s mindset, considering what are the gaps in your understanding of the data. 
4. Beware of Data Dredging: Avoid searching for patterns in data without a prior hypothesis, as this increases the risk of finding spurious correlations.
5. Continuously Improve Data Literacy: Stay updated with statistical methods and best practices to make better-informed decisions.

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/science/confirmation-bias

https://hbr.org/2021/11/leaders-stop-confusing-correlation-with-causation

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41583-023-00778-7

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574513

https://golayer.io/blog/business/data-interpretation

https://researchmethod.net/data-interpretation

https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

https://www.princeton.edu/~smello/papers/cops.pdf

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“The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future.”

– John Maynard Keynes

Intro 

There is an unspoken paradox in the world of social innovation: a simultaneous awareness that “money makes the world go round”, but that it is also the “root of all evil”.

Turns out, Madonna got it right- we do live in a material world. 

Indeed, global markets, politics, patterns of consumption,the survival of some businesses over others, and in fact, social innovation, are all ruled by economics. 

Those who grumble at the power generated by the flow of money, arguing that morality and justice should take priority, are missing the point. 

Money is not the source of all evil. Money is a tool. 

So, like most tools, its effects are more contingent on who is using it and how. 

For this reason, it is a top priority for the power of economics to be placed securely into the hands of social innovators- regardless of their background, industry, or nationality.

That is exactly what we are about to do, starting with the 9 lessons below.

Pixabay. Pexels, www.pexels.com/photo/numbers-on-monitor-534216/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.

#1: Incentive Structures

Incentive structures are systems of rewards and penalties that motivate people to behave in certain ways. 

They can be financial (like bonuses or fines), social (like praise or criticism), or moral (like the satisfaction of doing the right thing). 

The idea is that people are more likely to do something if they have a compelling reason to do it. Namely, something that benefits them or helps them avoid a negative outcome.

They are crucial for driving social innovation because they can encourage people and organizations to act in ways that promote social justice. 

By understanding what motivates individuals and groups, we can design policies and programs that align with these motivations to address issues like racism, gender equality, education access, and political unrest.

Steps to Implement Incentive Structures for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Key Behaviors: Determine the specific actions or behaviors that need to change to address the social justice issue.
2. Understand Motivations: Research what motivates the target group (e.g., financial gain, social approval, ethical satisfaction).
3. Design Incentives: Create a system of rewards and penalties that align with these motivations to encourage the desired behaviors.
4. Implement and Monitor: Put the incentive structures in place and continuously monitor their effectiveness, making adjustments as needed.
5. Promote and Educate: Raise awareness about the incentive structures and educate the target audience on how they work and how they can benefit from participating.

#2: Behavioral Economics 

Behavioral economics is a field of study that looks at how people actually make decisions, rather than how they would make decisions if they were always rational and logical. 

It combines insights from psychology and economics to understand why people sometimes make choices that aren’t in their best interest and how those choices can be influenced by various factors.

It’s important for driving social change because it helps us understand the real reasons behind people’s actions and decisions. 

By recognizing these patterns, we can design better policies and programs that encourage positive behaviors and discourage harmful ones. 

Steps to Implement Behavioral Economics for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Behavioral Patterns: Study the behaviors related to the social justice issue you want to address. Understand why people act the way they do.
2. Design Behavioral Interventions: Create interventions that leverage these insights. This could include nudges, incentives, or informational campaigns.
3. Test and Refine: Pilot your interventions on a small scale to see what works. Use data to refine and improve your approach.
4. Implement at Scale: Roll out successful interventions on a larger scale, ensuring they are accessible and effective for the target population.
5. Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor the impact of your interventions and make adjustments as necessary to maximize their effectiveness.

#3: Market Failures

Market failure happens when the free market, which is the system where prices are determined by supply and demand, doesn’t work perfectly. 

This means that the market doesn’t allocate resources in the most efficient way, leading to problems like overproduction, underproduction, or unfair distribution of goods and services.

Understanding market failures is important for driving social change because these failures often contribute to social injustices. 

For example, pollution (a negative externality) can disproportionately affect poorer communities, or monopolies can lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers. 

By recognizing where the market fails, we can design policies and interventions to correct these failures and promote fairness and equity.

Steps to Implement Solutions for Market Failures in Social Innovation:

1. Identify the Market Failure: Determine where the market is failing to allocate resources efficiently or fairly, and understand the specific impacts on different social groups.
2. Design Targeted Interventions: Develop policies and programs that directly address these failures. This could include regulations, subsidies, or the provision of public goods.
3. Engage Stakeholders: Work with affected communities, businesses, and government agencies to design and implement effective interventions.
4. Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously assess the impact of your interventions and adjust them as necessary to ensure they are effective and equitable.
5. Educate and Advocate: Raise awareness about market failures and advocate for policies that promote social justice, ensuring that the broader community understands the importance of these interventions.

#4: Coase Theorem

The Coase Theorem is an idea in economics that helps us understand how people and businesses can solve problems involving externalities, which are costs or benefits that affect someone who didn’t choose to be involved in the situation. 

For example, if a factory pollutes a river, the people living nearby suffer from the pollution even though they didn’t cause it. The Coase Theorem suggests that if people can negotiate with each other and if there are no costs to making these negotiations (called transaction costs), they can come to an agreement that solves the problem in the best way for everyone.

The Coase Theorem is relevant to social innovation because it provides a framework for resolving conflicts and externalities through negotiation and cooperation, rather than relying solely on government intervention. 

Steps to Implement Solutions Using the Coase Theorem for Social Innovation:

1. Identify the Externality: Determine the specific problem or externality that needs to be addressed, such as pollution, discrimination, or lack of resources.
2. Establish Clear Property Rights: Ensure that everyone involved knows their rights and responsibilities. This clarity helps in making fair negotiations.
3. Facilitate Negotiations: Create a platform or environment where affected parties can discuss the issue openly and honestly. This could be through community meetings, workshops, or mediation programs.
4. Minimize Transaction Costs: Make it as easy as possible for people to negotiate by reducing legal barriers, providing mediation services, and ensuring transparent communication.
5. Reach an Agreement: Encourage parties to come to a mutually beneficial agreement that addresses the externality. This agreement should be fair and consider the needs and rights of all involved.
6. Monitor and Adjust: Once an agreement is in place, continuously monitor its effectiveness and make adjustments as needed to ensure it remains fair and effective.

#5: Collaborative Consumption

Collaborative consumption, also known as the sharing economy, is an economic model where people share access to goods and services instead of owning them individually. 

This can include activities like car sharing, bike rentals, house sharing (like Airbnb), and even sharing tools or clothes. 

The idea is that by sharing resources, we can use them more efficiently, reduce waste, and save money.

Because it promotes sustainability, reduces inequality, and strengthens community ties, collaborative consumption is an essential idea to cultivating social innovation. 

By sharing resources, we can help ensure that everyone has access to the things they need, even if they can’t afford to buy them outright. 

This model can also foster a sense of community and cooperation, which is essential for addressing social justice issues.

Steps to Implement Collaborative Consumption for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Needs and Resources: Determine what resources are needed in your community and what can be shared. This could include books, tools, transportation, or space.
2. Create Sharing Platforms: Develop platforms (physical or digital) where people can easily share and access these resources. Examples include online groups, apps, or community centers.
3. Promote Inclusivity: Ensure that everyone in the community knows about these sharing opportunities and feels welcome to participate, regardless of their background or economic status.
4. Encourage Participation: Organize events and programs to get people involved in sharing, such as swap meets, community potlucks, or skill-sharing workshops.
5. Monitor and Improve: Continuously assess how well the sharing programs are working, gather feedback from participants, and make improvements as needed to ensure they are meeting the community’s needs.

#6: Microfinance

Microfinance is a financial service that provides small loans, savings accounts, and other financial products to individuals who do not have access to traditional banking services. 

These services are typically aimed at people with low incomes or those in developing countries who need money to start or grow their small businesses. The loans are usually small amounts, hence the term “micro.”

Nevertheless, despite the size of these loans, microfinance empowers people, especially those in poverty, to improve their economic situation. 

By giving people access to financial resources, they can start businesses, create jobs, and support their families. 

Ultimately, microfinance can help break the cycle of poverty and promote sustainable economic development.

Steps to Implement Microfinance for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Target Groups: Determine which groups or communities would benefit most from microfinance services, such as low-income individuals, women, minorities, or young entrepreneurs.
2. Establish Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): Set up or partner with MFIs that have a mission to promote social justice and economic development. Ensure they have the resources and expertise to provide loans and financial education.
3. Develop Tailored Financial Products: Create loan products and savings accounts that meet the specific needs of the target groups. Consider low-interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and small loan amounts.
4. Provide Financial Education: Offer training and resources to help borrowers understand how to manage their finances, run a business, and repay loans. This increases the chances of successful outcomes.
5. Monitor and Support: Continuously monitor the progress of borrowers and provide additional support or adjustments as needed. This could include mentorship, business advice, or additional financial products.
6. Promote Success Stories: Share the success stories of individuals who have benefited from microfinance to encourage others to participate and to attract more support and funding for the programs.

#7: Open Innovation

Open innovation is a concept where organizations use external ideas, knowledge, and technologies in addition to their internal resources to drive innovation. 

Instead of relying solely on their own staff and resources, companies and organizations collaborate with outside experts, researchers, and the public to develop new products, services, or solutions. 

This approach can lead to more creative and effective outcomes because it harnesses a wider pool of ideas and expertise.

By tapping into the collective intelligence and creativity of a diverse group of people, we can develop innovative approaches to address social justice issues.

Steps to Implement Open Innovation for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Key Challenges: Determine the specific social justice issues you want to address, such as education inequality or environmental racism.
2. Engage a Diverse Community: Involve a wide range of stakeholders, including community members, experts, NGOs, and government representatives, to ensure diverse perspectives and ideas.
3. Create Collaborative Platforms: Develop or utilize existing platforms that facilitate open innovation, such as online forums, collaboration tools, or innovation hubs.
4. Facilitate Idea Sharing: Encourage the sharing of ideas through workshops, hackathons, innovation challenges, and other collaborative events. Provide incentives for participation and recognition for contributions.
5. Develop and Test Solutions: Work collaboratively to develop prototypes or pilot projects. Test these solutions in real-world settings and gather feedback to refine them.
6. Scale Successful Innovations: Once a solution has been proven effective, work on scaling it up to reach a larger audience. This could involve seeking additional funding, forming new partnerships, or using larger platforms for implementation.
7. Monitor and Iterate: Continuously monitor the impact of the implemented solutions and make necessary adjustments based on feedback and changing conditions.

#8: Shared Value Creation

Shared value creation is a business concept that focuses on creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society. 

This means that companies can achieve financial success while simultaneously addressing social and environmental issues. 

Instead of seeing social problems as a cost or a burden, companies look for ways to solve these problems in a way that benefits both their business and the community.

Shared value creation is important in social innovation because it aligns the goals of businesses with the needs of society. 

By integrating social and environmental concerns into their core business strategies, companies can contribute to solving major issues.

Steps to Implement Shared Value Creation for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Social Issues: Determine the social and environmental issues that are relevant to your business and the communities you serve. This could include issues like diversity, education, or sustainability.
2. Integrate Social Goals into Business Strategy: Align your business objectives with social goals. For example, incorporate diversity targets into your hiring practices or sustainability goals into your product development.
3. Develop Partnerships: Collaborate with other organizations, including non-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions, to create solutions that benefit both your business and society.
4. Innovate for Social Impact: Look for opportunities to innovate in ways that address social issues. This could involve developing new products, services, or business models that create shared value.
5. Measure and Communicate Impact: Track the impact of your shared value initiatives on both your business and society. Communicate these results to stakeholders to build support and encourage further action.
6. Engage Employees and Stakeholders: Involve employees and other stakeholders in your shared value initiatives. This can increase buy-in and generate additional ideas and support for your efforts.

#9: Network Effects

Network effects occur when the value of a product or service increases as more people use it. 

Think about social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram: the more people who join and use these platforms, the more valuable they become to each user because there are more people to connect with. 

Network effects can be seen in many areas, from technology and social networks to markets and communities.

Network effects are important for social change because they can help spread positive behaviors and ideas quickly and widely. 

When a new idea, practice, or technology is adopted by more people, it becomes more valuable and influential, which can lead to rapid and widespread social change. 

Understanding network effects can help activists, organizations, and policymakers design initiatives that leverage these dynamics to promote social justice.

Steps to Implement Network Effects for Social Innovation:

1. Identify Key Networks: Determine which networks are most relevant to your social justice goals. This could include social media platforms, professional associations, community groups, or online learning platforms.
2. Encourage Participation: Promote the network and encourage people to join and participate. Highlight the benefits of being part of the network to attract more members.
3. Foster Engagement: Create opportunities for members to engage with each other and share resources. This could include events, online forums, mentorship programs, or collaborative projects.
4. Leverage Technology: Use digital tools and platforms to facilitate communication and collaboration within the network. This makes it easier for members to connect and share information.
5. Measure and Expand Impact: Continuously measure the impact of the network and look for ways to expand its reach. Encourage members to invite others and actively promote the network to new audiences.
6. Support and Sustain: Provide ongoing support to network members and ensure the network remains active and vibrant. This could include regular updates, resources, and opportunities for involvement.

Conclusion

In Charlie Wheelan’s book Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, he says, “Economics is not just a subject for philosophers, statisticians, and college professors. It is about you and me, what we buy, how much we save, and how much we work.”

This rings true, not only within personal finance, but also in the way we design solutions to problems worldwide. 

Applying lessons from economics to the challenges faced in social justice not only help us to understand why the causes exist in the first place, but also how to design effective solutions. 

Then, armed with the tools to navigate a world governed by economic principles, money is no longer the root of evil. 

Actually, it is the secret to driving widespread good. 

Thought to Action

1. Bank with Ethical Institutions: Choose banks and financial institutions that prioritize ethical practices, such as community development banks or credit unions that invest in local communities.
2. Support Fair Trade: Purchase products from companies that ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers, promoting ethical consumption.
3. Microfinance and Peer-to-Peer Lending: Invest in microfinance institutions or peer-to-peer lending platforms that provide small loans to entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
4. Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI): Invest in companies that follow sustainable practices, prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, and contribute positively to society.
5. Support Local Businesses: Spend money at locally-owned businesses to strengthen your local economy and support job creation within your community.

Sources

Check your sources!

Alam, Moinul. “What Is Open Innovation? Definition, Types, Model and Best Practices.” IdeaScale, IdeaScale, 14 July 2023, ideascale.com/blog/what-is-open-innovation/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Behavioral Economics, Explained.” University of Chicago News, 2021, news.uchicago.edu/explainer/what-is-behavioral-economics. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Botsman, Rachel. “Defining the Sharing Economy: What Is Collaborative Consumption–and What Isn’t?” Fast Company, 27 May 2015, www.fastcompany.com/3046119/defining-the-sharing-economy-what-is-collaborative-consumption-and-what-isnt. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Choudhary, Sunny. “Understanding Employee Incentives: A Comprehensive Guide.” ELearning Industry, eLearning Industry, 2 Apr. 2024, elearningindustry.com/understanding-employee-incentives-a-comprehensive-guide. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Collaborative Consumption: What It Is, How It Works.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/c/collaborative-consumption.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Creating Shared Value.” Harvard Business Review, 2011, hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“CSV Explained – Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness – Harvard Business School.” Hbs.edu, 2024, www.isc.hbs.edu/creating-shared-value/csv-explained/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/thebalancemoney. “Does Microfinance Really Work?” The Balance, 2018, www.thebalancemoney.com/what-is-microfinance-and-how-does-it-work-4165939. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom. “How the Coase Theorem Affects Property Rights.” ThoughtCo, 2019, www.thoughtco.com/introduction-to-the-coase-theorem-1147386. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Market Failure: What It Is in Economics, Common Types, and Causes.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketfailure.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Network Effect: What It Is, How It Works, Pros and Cons.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/n/network-effect.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“Open Innovation: Definition and Explanation.” The Oxford Review – or Briefings, 3 Mar. 2023, oxford-review.com/oxford-review-encyclopaedia-terms/encyclopaedia-open-innovation-definition-explanation/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

Stobierski, Tim. “What Are Network Effects?” Harvard Business School Online, 12 Nov. 2020, online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-are-network-effects.

Tipton, Matt. “How to Create an Incentive Structure | Why HR.” Why HR, 30 Aug. 2021, whyhr.guru/create-an-incentive-structure/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

“What Is Behavioral Economics? Theories, Goals, and Applications.” Investopedia, 2024, www.investopedia.com/terms/b/behavioraleconomics.asp. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.

The post 9 Lessons from Economics on Driving Social Innovation appeared first on Green Also Green.

“It had never gotten old for him, flying. Never gone boring. Every engine start was a new adventure, guiding the spirit of a lovely machine back into life; every takeoff blending his spirit with its own to do what’s never been done in history, to lift away from the ground and fly.” ~ Richard Bach (2009), Hypnotizing Maria

Why Engines Are Relevant to Eco-Friendly Innovation?

When we dream about eco-friendly innovation, oftentimes we also disparagingly dismiss all the innovation that has enabled climate change, biodiversity loss, daunting wealth disparities, and more. 

This is a mistake. 

Yes, the carbon emissions produced from airplanes, cars, buses, and other modes of transport have caused us many problems. 

However, they also solved many problems we had before the Industrial Revolution. 

Hear me out. 

With the invention of the internal combustion engine, we were able to make travel and transport significantly faster and more efficient. 

What did this lead to?

Here are just a few of the effects:

Children who initially lived too remote to attend school now could, thus increasing literacy and empowering all economic classes. Agricultural productivity skyrocketed because instead of relying on human and animal power, we could use tractors and other farm machinery, leading to greater food security and economic growth. 

Postal services were significantly faster, enabling quicker communication across long distances. Finally, engine-powered vehicles improved waste collection and disposal systems, facilitating the transportation of fresh produce and medical supplies, enhancing public health and sanitation as a result.

That is a long list of incredibly impactful outcomes, all with a direct link to the same invention. 

While now the internal combustion engine has resulted in issues related to climate, waste, pollution, and more, the history of problem-solving and innovation behind it still hold several important lessons for anyone interested in driving change. 

Those are the lessons I am going to share with you now. 

#1: Efficiency 

First stop: efficiency. 

This is one of the greatest strengths of the internal combustion engine. If you boil it down, it’s as simple as this: air and fuel go in, an explosion takes place in the cylinders, and power is produced. 

In reality though, the efficiency of our modern-day engines took over 100 years to perfect. 

The lesson here?

Optimizing existing processes can lead to better resource utilization than implementing something completely new, which is crucial to eco-friendly innovation. 

Example from Engine History: The transition from steam engines to internal combustion engines significantly increased efficiency. Steam engines were bulky and less efficient in converting fuel to motion, whereas internal combustion engines offered a more compact and efficient power source.

#2: Problem-Solving Through Iteration 

Most of us live in a binary of pure success or absolute failure. 

In actual fact, during creative problem-solving, success and failure aren’t mutually exclusive. 

This is why it’s important to understand the concept of iteration– testing, adjusting, all while constantly inching toward an optimal solution. 

This embrace of trial-and-error can foster resilience and creativity, which are necessary traits to the eco-friendly problem-solver.

Example from Engine History: The development of the jet engine involved numerous iterations and prototypes. 

Frank Whittle’s early designs in the 1930s faced multiple challenges, but persistent problem-solving and continuous improvements led to the successful deployment of jet engines during World War II.

#3: Collaboration & Knowledge-Sharing 

In a world of politics and competition at every level, this may seem like a naive but obvious lesson- to actually talk, collaborate, and share. 

Nevertheless, it must be noted.

Creating platforms for collaboration and open knowledge-sharing can accelerate eco-friendly innovation.

Example from Engine History: The collaboration between Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach led to significant advancements in engine technology. 

Their partnership and sharing of knowledge resulted in the development of high-speed internal combustion engines, which revolutionized transportation.

#4: Societal Impact

Last stop: societal impact!

This is frequently the lowest on anyone’s list of priorities, but to truly solve any problem, it is vital to consider how your work impacts a wider community of stakeholders. 

Understanding this can guide responsible development and help avoid any further damage to our planet or to other people in society. 

For example, the development of renewable energy technologies not only addresses environmental concerns but also has the potential to provide energy access to remote and underserved communities, promoting social equity.

Example from Engine History: The mass production of automobiles powered by internal combustion engines, pioneered by Henry Ford’s assembly line techniques, transformed society by making personal transportation widely accessible. 

This had profound effects on urban planning, commerce, and daily life.

The Future: Eco-Friendly Innovation

Now that you have peeked behind the curtain at some of the most valuable insights from over a century of innovation on the internal combustion engine, it’s time to talk about the future. 

According to the European Union Joint Research Commission, over 80% of all product-related climate impacts are determined throughout the design stage of a product. 

This means that sustainable product design is absolutely crucial to lowering pollution, increasing accessibility to all demographics, cultivating water and energy security, and so on.

We have a responsibility to be stewards to our planet and society, and one of the most impactful ways to do that is through our careers. 

By applying these lessons from the intricate history behind the internal combustion engine, not only can you be inspired by those who contributed to such an amazing feat of engineering, but also empowered to apply your creativity and problem-solving to creating eco-friendly solutions. 

Thought to Action

1. Pursue: Pursue an free interdisciplinary education online to expand your awareness of other subject areas. 
2. Embrace: Embrace constraints to fuel creativity. Some ways you can do this are by:
   1. Setting time constraints or deadlines to complete a project. 
   2. Create solutions that work within environmental limitations, such as developing products or systems that are sustainable, energy-efficient, or adaptable to harsh conditions.
   3. Design for users with specific needs, such as accessibility requirements. This can lead to more inclusive and innovative designs that cater to a broader audience.
   4. Choose a prompt, theme, intention or idea to commit to as your starting point then base your project off this concept. 
3. Seek Out: Seek out collaborations with professionals from other disciplines. 
4. Diversify: Diversify your reading habits. Explore books, journals, and articles from other disciplines. 
5. Join: Join or create think tanks and innovation labs that focus on interdisciplinary collaboration. These environments are designed to foster creative thinking and problem-solving across various fields.

Sources

Before you dive into the vast ocean of online information, make sure you’re not sailing on a raft of rumors…Check your sources!

Bach, Richard. Hypnotizing Maria. Hampton Roads Publishing, 18 Sept. 2009.

Bowie, Desiree. “What Is an Internal Combustion Engine?” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 18 July 2023, science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/internal-combustion-engine.htm. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Frankel, Andrew. “A Life Well Lived: Tracing 120 Years of the Combustion Engine.” Autocar, Autocar, 15 May 2021, www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/life-well-lived-tracing-120-years-combustion-engine. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Gasoline Engine – Internal Combustion, Ignition, Efficiency | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2024, www.britannica.com/technology/gasoline-engine/Development-of-gasoline-engines. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Internal Combustion Engine Basics.” Energy.gov, 2024, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Loughlin, Bronagh. “Why Is Sustainable Product Design and Innovation Important.” Institute of Sustainability Studies, 25 Sept. 2023, instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com/insights/guides/why-is-sustainable-product-design-and-innovation-important/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Malevus.” Malevus, 5 Sept. 2022, malevus.com/history-of-engine/#google_vignette. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Rong, Blake Z. “​​the Evolution of the Combustion Engine​​.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 5 June 2018, www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a19854205/the-evolution-of-the-combustion-engine/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Sustainable Product Policy.” EU Science Hub, 2023, joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities-z/sustainable-product-policy_en. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Todd, Benjamin. “This Is Your Most Important Decision.” 80,000 Hours, 24 May 2023, 80000hours.org/make-a-difference-with-your-career/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

What is eco innovation. “5 Benefits of Eco Innovation.” Greenly.earth, 13 Feb. 2024, greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/ecology-news/5-benefits-of-eco-innovation. Accessed 28 July 2024.

The post Unlock Eco-Friendly Innovations: 4 Powerful Lessons from Engine History appeared first on Green Also Green.

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After defending the bad press snakes get in Western culture and highlighting the potential their venom offers the field of medicine, I was struck by a dagger of guilt. More than 220,000 species- or approximately 15% of all animal diversity on earth – are venomous. What about their potential in medicine? I decided I couldn’t possibly move on from the topic of venom without giving a shoutout to the fascinating array of cone snails, spiders, scorpions, and other species that seldom get the spotlight they deserve. This guilt weighed me down heavily as I wondered with great futility how to resolve this moral conundrum. That’s when I came across Adam Roy’s article for the magazine Outside, Keep Your Bird-Watching- I’m a Spider Man. It was clear after reading it that my next venomous protagonists would be scorpions and spiders, both arachnids, which are members of the arthropod group and Arachnida class. 

Anon, (n.d.). [Online Image] Pixabay. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/animal-arachnid-close-up-creepy-219959/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

To paint the picture, I think it’s helpful to get to know the stars of the show. If you aren’t too clear on what constitutes the Arachnida class, according to Britannica, they have segmented bodies, tough exoskeletons, and jointed appendages. Most are predatory and almost all of them lack jaws.This is because instead, they inject digestive fluids into their prey before sucking out the liquefied remains into their mouths. 

(Sidenote: That might send a shiver down your spine, but please don’t go out killing spiders. They are important members of the ecosystem in your home, your garden, and the wild. In fact, they even act as a form of biological pest control for not only flies, but also disease-carrying insects, like cockroaches or mosquitos.)

Scorpions, on the other hand, only use their venom defensively, so as long as you don’t provoke them, you should be safe. They are otherwise fascinating creatures for so many reasons, for example because they glow in the dark for reasons scientists still debate, and have extremely low metabolic rates, allowing them to survive with one tenth the oxygen of other insects. 

G., S. (n.d.). [Online Image] Pexels. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-brown-insect-with-pincers-1981542/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

But apart from being absolutely mind-boggling little critters, spiders and scorpions have added to their repertoire in recent years. Their venom, as it turns out, could help treat conditions like chronic pain and cancer. The big question is why. Why can venom, which is so painful when you’ve just been stung by a scorpion, snake, or spider, be used to alleviate pain at the same time? This contradiction is what enticed me at first, and perhaps it’s also what entices you. 

The reason venom can accomplish so much biochemically is because it contains such a large variety of peptides, each targeting a unique type of pore on the cell surface. These targets are called ion channels, and they control the flow of ions across cell membranes, shaping the electrical signals which are the stars behind muscle contraction and relaxation, blood pressure, neuronal signaling, neurotransmitter release, hormone secretion, and ensuring electrolyte balance.

Specifically when it comes to chronic pain, Medical News Today suggests that past studies have found that one of the most common pathways involved is Nav1.7, which is a sodium ion channel. By blocking this channel as some venoms do, researchers predict that the pathways controlling pain will basically be turned off. According to Professor Glenn King of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland in Australia, a researcher in this study, “Previous research shows indifference to pain among people who lack Nav1.7 channels due to a naturally-occurring genetic mutation – so blocking these channels has the potential to turning off pain in people with normal pain pathways.”

Another application I mentioned was cancer, in which venom can be used as “tumor paint”, first developed by Dr. Jim Olsen. This would involve using the chlorotoxin peptide found in deathstalker scorpion venom to stick to cancer cells in the patient’s bloodstream alongside a dye which is fluorescent under laser light. This chlorotoxin peptide binds to glioma cells, a type of tumor found in the brain and spinal cord, and blocks chloride channels. This would allow a surgeon to clearly identify the type of cancer and which tissue is cancerous versus normal. Amazingly, this isn’t just a nice idea tossed around in the ether. The FDA has already approved this venom-based tumor paint for use in brain tumor clinical trials. 

Mind-boggling, right? And these are only a few examples! Other peptides with therapeutic potential are margatoxin, ω-CVID, α-GID, μ-PIIIA, ShK, χ-MrIB, and GsMTx4, which you can read up more on by using the sources at the bottom of this post. 

That said, one difficulty to synthesizing these medical tools is that such a small proportion of venom has actually been discovered. Dr. Julie Kaae Klint, a member of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and another author from King’s study on applying venom to chronic pain, estimates that there are roughly 9 million spider-venom peptides and only 0.01% have been explored so far. Let’s just stop to think about this. Imagine you drew a line half the length of the Grand Canyon or about two times as wide as the English Channel. For every inch of this line, there is a unique spider-venom peptide out there. Now imagine a line only the length of two and a half London buses. For every inch of this line, there is one spider-venom peptide that has been discovered. That still leaves almost 9 million spider-venom peptides that have not been explored. What will we find when we do?

Willinger, M. (n.d.). [Online Image] Pexels. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-spider-3482977/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

On that note, there’s another challenge to synthesizing venom-based drugs- and that is how to actually identify the peptides that we can put to use. In a paper published online on February 11 2014 in Current Biology, a team of researchers led by Michael Nitabach, Yale Medical School, New Haven, US, described a “new approach to identifying novel peptide toxins, a method that could bolster the design of new drugs targeting ion channels”. This method has a name that I love, mostly because you can’t find it in the dictionary. It’s toxineering. 

This is essentially a method of screening all the different molecules in venom to find the ones that do the job you want. You can think of it as LinkedIn for venom, scrolling through the properties of each molecule until you find just the right candidate who will (1) bind and who will (2) bind to the receptor you want it to. In the Nitabach’s Yale study, researchers were specifically looking for a molecule to bind to the TRPA1 receptor and as a result of combing through their t-toxin library using toxineering, found the ProTx-I peptide which is now used for several clinical applications. 

This is very promising, but as always, there remains vast uncharted territory in the field of venomics and toxineering, and arachnid and snake venoms are not the only types to hold promise. There are also fascinating developments in the venoms of animals like komodo dragons, which have applications in treating strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms, and northern short-tailed shrews, whose venom is being used to explore cancer treatment. All in all, it is a field overflowing with questions, innovation, and potential. What will we find in the daunting ocean of undiscovered peptides? How will the medical industry work with nature to benefit human health? Who will brave the unknown in order to finally answer these questions for the world?

Thought to Action 

1. For free, switch your search browser to Ecosia, the search engine which uses the profits produced from your searches to plant trees where they are needed most. Ecosia is currently using its profits to plant trees all around the world, a mission which supports biodiversity, helps to fight climate change, and gives you the chance to make a real difference. 
2. Don’t kill the spiders you find in your home. If you must remove them, use a jar to capture and release them outside. Why? In brief, because spiders are natural pest controllers and are important biological control of pests. If you want to read up more, check out the articles below:
   1. Here’s Why You Should Never Kill A Spider
   2. Don’t Kill Spiders
3. Plant native trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, and herbs in your garden to promote biodiversity locally. 
4. Did you know that if every single person in France deleted 50 emails, the energy savings would be equivalent to turning the Eiffel tower’s lights off for 42 years or to New York City not consuming any electricity for 4 hours? If you want to contribute to saving energy on this scale:
   1. refuse unnecessary notifications that clog your inbox
   2. unsubscribe to newsletters/subscriptions you no longer find useful
   3. delete emails with large attachments
   4. clear out your junk mail folder regularly
5. Try Tru Earth’s laundry eco-strips to save space, money, and the planet. If not, at least watch their wonderfully amusing ads to put a smile on your face: Things You Should Never Mix with Water or Real Men do Laundry.
6. Replace your arachnophobia with arachnophilia. The Cornell Library’s Arachnophilia online exhibit explains the nuanced way spiders understand the world around them while discussing the diversity of arachnids, amazing properties of spider silk- which has a higher strength to density ratio than steel- and the use of spider venom in medicine. 

Sources

This is your gentle reminder to always fact check…always.

abc2.org. (2021). FDA Approves Scorpion Venom-based Tumor Paint for Brain Cancer Clinical Trial. [online] Available at: https://abc2.org/press-blog/2014/09/fda-approves-scorpion-venom-based-tumor-paint-brain-tumor-clinical-trial/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Animals and Cartoonists. Http://Twitter. com/Johnrplatt Http://Johnrplatt.com Https://Www.instagram.com/Johnrplatt (2021). We Need to Talk About Spider Conservation • The Revelator. [online] The Revelator. Available at: https://therevelator.org/spider-conservation/ [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Arachnophilia – Online exhibitions across Cornell University Library. (2020). Spider Senses. [online] Available at: https://exhibits.library.cornell.edu/arachnophilia/feature/spider-senses [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

britishspiders.org.uk. (n.d.). Arachnids and arachnology | British Arachnological Society. [online] Available at: https://britishspiders.org.uk/arachnids [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Caba, J. (2013). ‘Tumor Paint’ Made From Scorpion Venom Could Be Viable Brain Cancer Treatment Option [VIDEO]. [online] Medical Daily. Available at: https://www.medicaldaily.com/tumor-paint-made-scorpion-venom-could-be-viable-brain-cancer-treatment-option-video-264133 [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Culin, J. (2020). arachnid | Definition, Facts, & Examples | Britannica. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/animal/arachnid.

EcoWatch. (2021). We Need to Talk About Spider Conservation. [online] Available at: https://www.ecowatch.com/spider-conservation-2652937580.html [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Gui, J., Liu, B., Cao, G., Lipchik, Andrew M., Perez, M., Dekan, Z., Mobli, M., Daly, Norelle L., Alewood, Paul F., Parker, Laurie L., King, Glenn F., Zhou, Y., Jordt, S.-E. and Nitabach, Michael N. (2014). A Tarantula-Venom Peptide Antagonizes the TRPA1 Nociceptor Ion Channel by Binding to the S1–S4 Gating Domain. Current Biology, [online] 24(5), pp.473–483. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.01.013.

Hannon, H. and Atchison, W. (2013). Omega-Conotoxins as Experimental Tools and Therapeutics in Pain Management. Marine Drugs, 11(12), pp.680–699. doi:10.3390/md11030680.

https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom (2019). There Are at Least 10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Scorpions. [online] ThoughtCo. Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/scorpion-facts-4135393 [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

jversteegh (2022). Keep Your Bird-Watching—I’m a Spider Man. [online] Outside Online. Available at: https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/spiders-fears-misconceptions/?utm_source [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Lewis, R.J. and Garcia, M.L. (2003). Therapeutic potential of venom peptides. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2(10), pp.790–802. doi:10.1038/nrd1197.

March 12, C.N., 2017 and Am, 9:22 (2017). On The Horizon: Scorpion venom as cancer treatment. [online] www.cbsnews.com. Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/on-the-horizon-scorpion-venom-as-cancer-treatment-tumor-paint/.

Oliveira, A.L., Viegas, M.F., da Silva, S.L., Soares, A.M., Ramos, M.J. and Fernandes, P.A. (2022). The chemistry of snake venom and its medicinal potential. Nature Reviews Chemistry, [online] pp.1–19. doi:10.1038/s41570-022-00393-7.

Peterson, J. (2012). Don’t Kill Spiders. [online] HowStuffWorks. Available at: https://home.howstuffworks.com/green-living/dont-kill-spiders.htm [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Shaw, A. (n.d.). How venoms are shaping medical advances | BBC Earth. [online] www.bbcearth.com. Available at: https://www.bbcearth.com/news/how-venoms-are-shaping-medical-advances [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

Silva, W. da (2022). Venom: The New Miracle of Medicine. [online] ILLUMINATION-Curated. Available at: https://medium.com/illumination-curated/venom-a-revolution-in-medicine-d163eb065e28 [Accessed 9 Dec. 2022].

src=”https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6a9e2dae2b328b5cdfa3221e8fa8f071?s=96, img class=”avatar” alt=”Kiersten H., #038;d=mm, Sep. 05, 038;r=g” width=”50″ height=”50″>Kiersten H. and 2022 (2019). Here’s Why You Should Never Kill A Spider. [online] Family Handyman. Available at: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/heres-why-you-should-never-kill-a-spider/.

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