top of page

Microcosmos - Creation Group


Proposed by: Suratómica in collaboration with CorpoGen and BioCrea.


Duration: 7 weeks / Weekly encounters.

Dates: April 16th to June 28th

Day: Friday

Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Duration of each encounter: 2 hours

Platform: Zoom + Google Classroom

Participants: 40 people





Artistic Possibilities of Biology.


In the Creation Group "Microcosmos" we studied the relationships and forms of collaboration or synthesis of the arts and biology. From the CorpoGen laboratory, several microbiologists gave weekly talks on topics of synthetic biology and microbiology, which were accompanied by artists, who talked about their creative processes in this field. This group was carried out in collaboration with the microbiology and biotechnology laboratory CorpoGen and the network of bioartists BioCrea.



ACTIVITIES


The methodology of this space was one of research-creation, with six two-hour thematic sessions divided into two main blocks. The first part included talks of scientific or artistic content. During the second block, a collaborative space for discussion and creation was opened in which participants shared ideas, concerns and interests.


Topics:


Symbiosis or the infinite interdependence of different forms of life:

Defined as "the coexistence of different organisms for extended periods of their life cycle".


Quantitative biology

or understanding the dynamics of biological systems through rigorous quantifications.


Microbial dark matter

o our methods for characterizing microbial life are still very limited.


Molecular phylogenies

o Looking into the past and interpreting gene sequence change over time.


Biohacking

Home scientists hacking the software of life.


Bioart

The artistic possibilities of synthetic biology.



PROPONENTS


Corpogen


CorpoGen is a scientific research center founded 30 years ago with the purpose of promoting the development of molecular microbiology and biotechnology in Colombia. During this time CorpoGen has developed a portfolio of intellectual capital, know-how and competitive technologies with high development potential such as antimicrobial resistance, molecular biomarkers, bioinformatics, metagenomics and pathogenesis of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Many of these developments have been obtained thanks to the scientific research carried out in CorpoGen, which has allowed it to become a reference institution in these topics at national level.


From the knowledge of the DNA sequences that make up our cells, through the microorganisms with which we come into contact in our lives, their roles and influence on our health, to the reprogramming of the genetic component of bacteria: All are topics that in one way or another we have worked on in CorpoGen and that we want to socialize with the community in general.


From CorpoGen we want to make the science we work on more accessible to non-scientists who are interested in these topics. Understanding science and the scientific method provides elements for us to make better decisions as people and makes us less vulnerable to pseudo-science and anti-scientific thinking that spreads like wildfire in social networks.


On the other hand, we seek to strengthen the skills of young people to pursue careers related to science and technology, particularly in biology-based platforms and the biotechnological potential of Colombian megadiversity.


We expect them to discuss topics in molecular biology, synthetic biology, metagenomics, their potential in Colombia and the implications of the use of these technologies for the country and humanity in general.



Biocrea


BIOCREA is a project of experimentation, research and prototyping on topics related to biology and biotechnology, art and design. Founded in 2018 in Medialab Prado it started an "open space of creative biology", proposing lines of work (ecology, genetics, biomaterials, biosensors, cybernetics, alternative energies, education, food, among others) that can be carried out in a public laboratory under the philosophy of DIYbio (do-it-yourself biology), citizen science, biohacking and bioart.

The idea is to create a space where science, engineering and art can carry out cross-research, tracing an open research that stimulates the development and application of scientific knowledge and artistic practices with new media, materials and methods. Under a collaborative environment, open, recursive and creative experimentation is carried out involving the prototyping of projects, the development of proposals, the use of open tools and digital fabrication as well as creative accompaniment of ideas and related projects. It is linked to experimentation, implementation, prototyping and documentation of different ways of conceiving "the laboratory" and the possible creative uses that can be given to this space, promoting the creation of alternative, public, portable or itinerant laboratory spaces.



RECORD OF THE ENCOUNTERS






Коментарі


bottom of page