Biomimicry in Science Block

Close observation of the natural world is a long-running thread at Long-View. We cultivate this habit in Campfires about plants, animals, and other natural phenomena; in the field notes and experiments from biology-focused science blocks; in nature writing units and small moment stories set outside; and of course, in our daily walks to Pease Park, where we watch birds, splash around to get a closer look at the turtles and other denizens of Shoal Creek, and relax in the shade of majestic live oaks.

This spring, learners in Mint and Persimmon Bands are putting these observational skills to work in a unit focused on biomimicry, with a challenge to design something for the human world that is inspired by the functions of other living things.

At the beginning of the unit, small groups collaboratively investigated the causes and effects of a UN Sustainable Development Goal that they felt passionate about. Groups decided on aspirational goals, criteria, and constraints for a potential design solution to the problem of their choosing. Next, they explored how nature has solved similar problems by matching the function of their design to organisms that have similar abilities….

scienceLisa ZapalacFebruary 23, 2026Long-View SchoolSEL, science, biomimicry, engineering challenge

Rethinking “Soft Skills”: Why the Hardest and Most Enduring Skills Need a New Name

Walk into any classroom or workplace today, and you’ll likely hear talk of “soft skills.” Communication, empathy, collaboration, adaptability—these are the qualities that shape how we relate to one another and navigate the world. Yet, the term “soft skills” does these abilities a disservice. Not only are these skills among the hardest to master—and teach—but they are also the most durable, especially as technology, including artificial intelligence, rapidly reshapes our world.

The Case for a Rebrand of “Soft Skills”

The phrase “soft skills” suggests something secondary or optional—a nice-to-have alongside the so-called “hard” skills of math, science, technical expertise, or other “academic” knowledge. But research consistently tells a different story. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2023) identifies analytical thinking, creativity, and resilience—alongside empathy and collaboration—as the most in-demand skills for the future workforce. These are not peripheral; they are central and it is a disservice to call them “soft”….

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