Using Biology to Develop Solutions

Every object we use, from a simple pencil to advanced medical devices, was carefully designed to solve a problem. Scientists and engineers both study the world, but they focus on different goals. Scientists work to understand how things work in nature, while engineers use scientific knowledge to design solutions to real-world problems. When engineering uses ideas from biology, it is called bioengineering. Bioengineers may design medical equipment, create new medicines, improve crops, or develop safer materials and technologies.

Scientists and engineers also ask different types of questions. A scientist studying a plant used in medicine might ask what chemicals in the plant help treat disease, how those chemicals work inside the human body, and whether the plant can be safely and sustainably grown. Their goal is to explain how the natural process works. An engineer, however, would ask questions about improving that medicine. They might ask whether the medicine can be made more effective, whether it can be produced in a lab instead of growing thousands of plants, or what the best way is to store and deliver the medicine to patients. While scientists focus on understanding, engineers focus on solving problems.

To design a solution, engineers first need a clear problem statement. For example, imagine designing a prosthetic leg for someone who has lost a limb. Simply saying “make a prosthetic leg” is not enough information. The engineer must know whether the leg is meant for walking, running, or another activity. A prosthetic designed for running needs to be lightweight, flexible, and able to handle the strong forces produced when someone runs. These needs are called criteria, which are the requirements a solution must meet. Engineers often make criteria measurable. Instead of saying “the prosthetic should be light,” they might set a goal that the leg must weigh less than 1.5 kilograms.

Engineers also consider constraints, which are the limits they must work within. Constraints may include cost, safety, the materials available, and environmental or social impacts. For a prosthetic leg, the materials must be safe, affordable, and strong enough to support the user. Sometimes engineers must make trade-offs, which means choosing one benefit over another. For example, a very lightweight material might be more expensive, so engineers must decide whether the extra cost is worth the improved performance.

Once engineers have defined the problem and identified criteria and constraints, they begin brainstorming possible solutions. Brainstorming is a creative process where all ideas are considered, even unusual ones, because unexpected ideas can lead to innovative results. Engineers then compare their ideas and choose the most promising ones to test. They build prototypes, or test models, and may also use computer simulations to predict how their design will perform. Often, they start with small-scale models before building a full-size version.

Engineering is an iterative process, meaning engineers repeat the design steps again and again. They test, learn from mistakes, make improvements, and sometimes start over if the design does not work as expected. Failure is not the end of engineering — it is an important part of learning what works and what needs to change. Through this cycle of testing and refining, engineers eventually create the best possible solution to the problem.