# Arthropods as Models for Transdisciplinary Bio-Inspired Research and Discovery

## TL;DR

This opinion article argues that arthropods can inspire transdisciplinary research by uniting diverse experts to solve global challenges through nature-based innovations.

## Contribution

The paper introduces arthropods as a central theme for open-ended, transdisciplinary research teams to drive novel discoveries and innovations.

## Key findings

- Arthropods have a rich history of inspiring human innovation in food, medicine, and technology.
- Arthropods are both part of global challenges and potential solutions, making them ideal for transdisciplinary research.
- Open-ended research teams centered on arthropods can foster collaboration and lead to nature-inspired innovations.

## Abstract

In this opinion article, we propose that arthropods—insects, crustaceans, centipedes and millipedes, and arachnids—can act as a unifying theme to bring together researchers with distinct expertise to solve current challenges. Following a brief introduction of arthropods that highlights their deep evolutionary history and tremendous diversity, we provide an overview of the role of arthropods in the history of human innovation, including examples of arthropods in food, medicine, agriculture, materials, and technology. Next, we discuss how arthropods are part of our largest challenges but may also be key to the solutions. We discuss multiple models for creating transdisciplinary research teams—(1) challenge-focused, (2) taxon-focused, and (3) innovatively open-ended with respect to challenge and taxon—and the scales at which they can be created—local/regional/global. We then focus our arguments on the third model, suggesting that arthropods can provide a centering focal point for transdisciplinary research, and we propose that they act as an inspirational magnet to pull together distinct scholars to coalesce and collaborate around a common nature-based theme. Ultimately, we encourage more open-ended teams, concluding that a transdisciplinary research community centered generally on arthropods would be well-positioned to tackle multiple solution-based collaborations, and that such collaborations are likely to lead to novel discoveries and nature-inspired innovations.

This opinion article proposes that arthropods, with their tremendous biodiversity and evolutionary resilience, can offer abundant opportunities for integrative, transdisciplinary, solution-focused research. To support this proposal, we first (1) introduce arthropods and showcase their deep evolutionary history and tremendous diversity. Next, we (2) briefly discuss the role of arthropods in the history of human innovation and highlight some of the challenges they have helped us overcome. We provide select examples of the importance and innovation of arthropods in food, medicine, agriculture, materials, and technology. We then discuss (3) arthropods and grand challenges, articulating how they are both part of the problem and key to the solution. (4) We discuss multiple models for creating transdisciplinary research teams—1. challenge-focused, 2. taxon-focused, and 3. innovatively open-ended with respect to challenge and taxon—and the scales at which they can be created—local/regional/global. Finally, (5) we suggest that arthropods can provide a centering focal point for transdisciplinary research; an inspirational magnet that can pull together distinct scholars to coalesce and collaborate around a common nature-based theme. Our strategic next steps include exploring open-ended arthropod-focused research teams, as they would be well-positioned to tackle multiple solution-based collaborations, and such collaborations are likely to lead to novel discoveries and nature-inspired innovations.