‘Human-Bacteria Interfaces’ Group among the selected final concepts for an Eco-Social Renewal

Materials Experience 2: Expanding Territories of Materials and Design
November 1, 2021
Call for Abstracts: Symposium on Bio-Futures for Transplanetary Habitats
December 14, 2021

HBBE based Team selected as one of 7 Final Concepts for an Eco-social Renewal by Driving the Human

The multidisciplinary Group of PhD researchers based at the HBBE made it to the next stage of the Driving The Human selection. 

Driving The Human is a catalyst for experimentation, shaping sustainable and collective futures that combine science, technology, and the arts in a transdisciplinary and collaborative approach.

The Human-Bacteria Interfaces Concept by Anne-Sofie Belling (Creative Technologist), Bea Delgado Corrales (Microbiology), Romy Kaiser (Living Textiles) and Paula Nerlich (Living Textiles) was successfully selected to be one of the Final 7 Concepts for an Eco-social Renewal. The next stage of the Driving The Human Journey will comprise mentoring events with experts from the Driving The Human Network, funding support for the prototype development as well as an end exhibition in Berlin November 2022.

Human-Bacteria Interfaces Group presenting in Berlin, October 2021at the Radialsystem Berlin © Camille Blake – Driving The Human
Anne-Sofie Belling presenting in Berlin, October 2021at the Radialsystem Berlin © Camille Blake – Driving The Human

Human-Bacteria Interfaces Concept

The project introduces the novel concept of Human-Bacteria Interfaces within the context of the built environment.

The Human-Bacteria Interfaces (HBI) concept examines how multimodal interactions between humans and microbes can elicit novel ways for humans to “meaningfully” collaborate and coexist with the nonhuman within the built environment. Specifically, HBIs are tangible, living interfaces consisting of microbial consortia that interact or respond to stimuli from their surroundings by emitting signals accessible to humans through touch, smell and sight. These living interfaces are envisioned as part of an “ambient living intelligence” as they respond and interact with the rhythm of its human inhabitants and surroundings.

Next Steps

This selection success is a fantastic opportunity to put the concept into reality by exploring the new biotechnological possibilities for the proposed biosensor based on SCOBY. The format enables the group researching on the technical implementations as well as fostering science communication and raising discussions with the public about new applications of biotechnology in future homes.

According to the Research Team the next step of the Human-Bacteria Interfaces Project is to proof the concept by setting up experiments in the lab for identifying the interacting stimuli to being able to further define the prototype setting and design. 

Read more about the Human Bacteria Interface project and its development here.

The Human-Bacteria Interfaces Team (left to right: Anne-Sofie Belling, Bea Delgado Corrales, Romy Kaiser and Paula Nerlich) at the Driving the Human Event October 2021 in Berlin © Camille Blake – Driving The Human
Human-Bacteria Interfaces Group presenting in Berlin, October 2021at the Radialsystem Berlin © Camille Blake – Driving The Human
© Human-Bacteria Interfaces Group / Konstantin Lapigin