I. Definition/etymology

Biosmimesis (is a word which stems from “biomimicry”) comes from the Greek words “bios” (life) and

“mimesis” (imitate). The word “biomimicry” is often associated to biomimetic technology, inventors

are inspired by wildlife to create new innovations, regardful compared to the nature and more

ecologic, but also more economical.

II. History

Since the beginning of the appearance of the humankind on Earth, the human were inspired by

creatures around them in their living space, to find an answer to their problems, which are more or

less complex, that they have to face to.

The research about birds inspired Leonardo da Vinci to create his “flying machines”.

In the 20 century, Otto Schmitt invented the word “biomimetics” (biomimicry), for him it means the

“transfer from biology to technology”.

In 1997, the publication of Janine Benyus‘s book about biomimicry (so far almost unknown to the

broad public) gets known. In 2005, Janine Benyus becomes co­founder of the Biomimicry

Institute; it’s an organism which doesn’t have a lucrative goal. It is composed of engineers,

scientists and architects who want to offer resources to researchers.

Janine Benyus says in her book “Biomimicry”: Innovation Inspired by Nature.

“1. Nature as model: Biomimicry is a new science which studies the models of the nature, and

then reproduces or finds inspiration from their design and their functionality to resolve human

problems.

2. Nature as measure: Biomimicry suggests using the standards of ecology to consider the

“rightness” of our innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, the nature has learned: what

works, what is appropriate, what lasts.

3. The nature as mentor: Biomimicry is a new way to consider and appreciate the nature. It

introduces a new era based on what we can learn from the natural and not based on what we can

extract.

III. Levels of inspiration