Biomimicry
Biomimetics
The imitation of models, systems, and characteristics found in nature, often for the purpose of solving complex human problems such as environmental tolerance, self-assembly, and the harnessing of solar energy.
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Origin
The term "biomimetics" was developed by American biophysicist Otto Schmitt in the 1950s, who coined it by 1969 while studying nerve propagation in squid; by 1974 it appeared in Webster's Dictionary. The term "biomimicry" appeared as early as 1982 but was popularized by scientist Janine Benyus in her 1997 book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, which connected the concept to sustainability and defined it as studying nature's models to solve human problems.
Updated February 22, 2026