Synthetic Biology for Creatives

Genspace NYC

Explore how humans can collaborate with nature through synthetic biology and get creative with your new microbial collaborators!

Genspace

2-part class:Saturday, February 5, 10:00am - `1:00pm EDT Sunday, February 6, 10:00am - 1 :00pm EDT The emerging multidisciplinary field of synthetic biology promises to be infinitely transformative; to problem solve in the realms of agriculture, medicine, manufacturing, and beyond. From new types of vaccines, to hornless cattle, to fabric made from spider silk, synthetic biology is focused on the notion of engineering life to collaborate productively with humans.As exciting as these innovations are, it often seems abstract and unclear how to get started. So how do we begin to understand synbio–and how it can be used–in a manner that cuts through jargon and makes it relatable? How can everyone (especially those of us who are not biodesigners or bioengineers) participate? And as a human, what does it mean to design collaboratively with microbes? We’ll look at some existing and some imagined applications, and consider how the development and implementation of these applications could impact the world we live in. We’ll also tinker with synbio in the lab by using living bacteria to experiment. No biology experience necessary, apart from curiosity and a creative spirit! In this workshop, you will: <ul>In this workshop, you will: <li>Learn about existing and potential applications of synthetic biology</li><li>Consider the various ethical implications of this emerging technology </li><li>Explore the behavior of bacteria that produce banana scent</li><li>Experiment with cell-free synthetic systems </li></ul>Image credit: Karen IngramCOVID-19 Safety Notice: In accordance with NYC regulations, participants age 5+ must show proof of full vaccination (we recommend using the <a href="https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/excelsior-pass" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Excelsior Pass</a>). This is a socially-distanced event. Masks are required to be worn for the duration of the event. If you are feeling unwell, suspect that you have been exposed to COVID-19 or test positive, please do not attend. You can find a list of symptoms and a self-checker tool on the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/coronavirus-self-checker.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">CDC website</a>. Upon entry, guests are required to fill out our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchQ8tAFgvj7oYeT9HmwM-R7e8khB_-rqoRkXHPtrLWwmVHbw/viewform" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">COVID-19 health screening form</a>, and show a vaccination card. Given the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the pandemic, please note that terms of this event are subject to change, and we will update you ASAP. *Please note that due to changing city regulations we will no longer be accepting a negative test for entry, vaccinations are required.*

<h3>Meet the Instructor </h3>Karen Ingram (she/her/hers) is an independent creative director who specializes in science communications. She has a special interest in synthetic biology and is a co-author of "BioBuilder: Synthetic Biology in the Lab” (O’Reilly, English 2016, Japanese 2018, Russian 2019). Karen is an emerging technology fellow at Stanford’s d.school, working with the Teaching and Learning Team and the K-12 lab to design communication tools for Synthetic Biology. Learn more about Karen and her work at <a href="http://www.kareningram.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">kareningram.com</a> and <a href="https://www.colabfutures.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">colabfutures.com</a>. You can also find her on Twitter &amp; Instagram at @krening.

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