1 | 1/27 | Orienting Ourselves to the Challenge

In Class

Homework

  • reading: James Bridle, Ways of Being, Chapter 1
  • Research Assignment I: artist and designers using biology
    • using Will Meyer’s Biodesign and BioArt books and/or other resources, choose one artist that you find compelling and research their work beyond these texts
    • create 3-slide presentation on this person/group and add your slides to the group presentation
      • slide 1 – show a work that is representative of this artist (from the book or elsewhere)
      • slide 2 – present information/work/context about this artist not included in the book
      • slide 3 – give you own perspective/critique on the work (consider the BDC rubric where appropriate)
    • prepare to give a 5 minute talk to the class
  • research: begin thinking about and researching topics, processes, and/or materials you want to explore for the main projects

2 | 2/3 | Researching Across Disciplines

In Class

Homework

  • Research Assignment II: scientific journals
    • choose a topic of interest to you, related to our class
    • think about potential project topics, but you’re not getting married here, its just for this week
    • use google scholar to find 5-10 papers on this topic
    • skim the papers as described in the lecture
    • find one review paper and one original research paper that aligns with your interest and is reasonably compatible with your comprehension level
    • read the two papers thoroughly and take notes
    • prepare a brief summary of the two papers to share in class
  • Read: James Bridle, Ways of Being, chapter 2

3 | 2/10 | Research Taking Form

In Class

Homework

  • Add your two research papers to the class library
  • Research Assignment III – potential non-human collaborators
    • find an organism you might want to collaborate with and create a 4-slide presentation
      • Introduce your organism and its natural context.
      • What interesting things can it do that you can’t?
      • What type of things might you do together?
      • What are challenges to working together?
  • Read: James Bridle, Ways of Being, chapter 3

4 | 2/17 | Frameworks for Collaboration

IN CLASS

HOMEWORK


5 | 2/24 | Focusing

IN CLASS

HOMEWORK

  • Collect, Read, Discuss, and Organize papers
  • Begin making a list of needed materials, with costs and links to suppliers

6 | 3/3 | Planning and Ordering

IN CLASS

  • Weekly report out from each student
  • Biofabrication Companies: Polybion, Modern Sythesis
  • Review of papers that might synthesize ideas
  • Lab work
  • discuss lab hours

HOMEWORK

  • grow cultures
    • starter cultures from -80
    • expand cultures
    • store cultures in refrigerator
  • continue research
  • plan outreach to paper authors
  • identify and request reagents, cultures, equipment, or other materials
  • lab hours: Friday 1:30-4:30, Tues lab access for short tasks 10:00-4:00

7 | 3/10 | Exploring


8 | 3/17 | Restoring

Spring Break


9 | 3/24 | Experimenting


10 | 3/31 | Formulating


11 | 4/7 | Accelerating


12 | 4/14 | Executing


13 | 4/21 | Refining


14 | 4/28 | Finalizing


15 | 5/5 | Delivering