1 | 1/27 | Orienting Ourselves to the Challenge
In Class
- welcome
- syllabus
- overview of the Biodesign Challenge
- creating your project for the Biodesign Challenge
- orienting ourselves to the future
- lab check in
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
- Biofabrication Companies: Colorifix
- Artist presentations
- Reading discussion
- How to Approach Scientific Journals
- Google Scholar
- Brief Introduction of tools for literature research
- research time
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
- Reading discussion: James Bridle, Ways of Being, chapter 2
- Research paper sharing
- Tools for literature research – search, screening, managing collections
- Zotero – open-source tool for managing collections of research literature
- overview
- create a free account (use your MICA email)
- download the Zotero application for your computer or iPad
- download the Zotero Connector browser plugin (cannot be logged in to your MICA account in Chrome)
- add the “GTF25” class group library
- Elicit – AI tools for finding, summarizing, and filtering research literature
- overview
- create an account
- explore
- Zotero – open-source tool for managing collections of research literature
- Research time
- Biofabrication Companies: Spiber
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?
- find an organism you might want to collaborate with and create a 4-slide presentation
- Read: James Bridle, Ways of Being, chapter 3
4 | 2/17 | Frameworks for Collaboration
IN CLASS
- Biofabrication Companies: Living Ink
- Principles of Team Science
- Research Assignment III Presentations – potential non-human collaborators
- lecture: Ethical frameworks for collaborative biofabrication practices
HOMEWORK
- Research Assignment IV: Project Proposals
- Read: Joan Tronto, An Ethic of Care
5 | 2/24 | Focusing
IN CLASS
- Biofabrication Companies:
- Research Assignment IV Presentations: Project Proposals
- Form Groups
- Team Science
- Collaboration Agreement
- Planning and Research
- Vendors
- Discus Reading: Joan Tronto, An Ethic of Care
- Lab Hours
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