‘Human-Bacteria Interfaces’ Project presented in Berlin

Our multidisciplinary Team ‘Human-Bacteria Interfaces’ presented their final concept and prototype at the Driving The Human Festival at Silent Green in Berlin, November 2022. The exhibition featuring 7 prototypes for an ‘Eco-Social-Renewal’ as well as various activities attracted over 2400 visitors according to the hosting institution.

Human-Bacteria Interfaces (HBI)

Concept

The Human-Bacteria Interfaces (HBI) concept

The Human-Bacteria Interfaces concept explores new relationships with microbes through science-based speculative prototypes. Similar to other species and matter on Earth, microbes can respond to signals and stimuli from their surroundings. 

A core element of this concept is examining the potential of designing microbes to become living sensors that can respond through light to stimuli based on their genetic design. By designing new interactions with microbes, care and concern for other non-human living beings becomes a conscious part of our everyday experience. At the heart of this concept is a narrative that explores a biophilic turn within the generative genre of design: What if we could design in partnership with the non-human living world (such as microbes) rather than relying solely on the industrial extraction of matter to create the increasingly complex world that surrounds us? How could new relations with microbes build our future homes? 

The Human-Bacteria Interfaces installation did lead the visitor through a spatial timeline of the real and speculative worlds in which the project lives: from the genetically-designed microbes in the laboratories of today to elaborate visions of future human-bacteria relations. The main part of the physical installation is the Ambient Living Intelligence, a speculative prototype of how a human-microbial interface could be integrated into a future built environment. The concept proposes 3D knitted textile as a scaffold for microbial communities to create a living sensor that glows upon detecting touch.

Team

The multidisciplinary Group consists of the fours HBBE PhD researchers Anne-Sofie Belling (Creative Technologist), Bea Delgado Corrales (Microbiology), Romy Kaiser (Living Textiles) and Paula Nerlich (Living Textiles).

In addition of presenting the prototype the HBI Team hosted a workshop sharing knowledge on how to learn to distinguish microbes and build your own bioreactor for your home.

Besides the event has been fostering valuable networking, important conversations with the public could raise crucial questions. These included acceptance and future relationships with ‘living materials’ as well as the opportunities and challenges of the implementation of biomaterials in the Built Environment.

About ‘Driving The Human’

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. From 2020 to 2023, the scientific and artistic collaboration Driving the Human supports the development of seven tangible prototypes responding to complex contemporary scenarios. 

Timeline & Background

After the first Open Call in 2021 the Driving the Human Jury pre-selected 21 out of over 1000 applications from 99 countries. The chosen concepts were tackling some of the most critical questions of our time addressing e.g. the circular economy, artificial intelligence, or the restoration of indigenous knowledge, raising questions on how humanity can move from a parasitic towards a symbiotic relationship with nature.

Following the Concept presentation in October 2021 seven out of the presented 21 Concepts were selected and awarded with support and funding for further development. This also included the HBI Team with the Human-Bacteria Interfaces concept. The chosen 7 prototypes were offered expert knowledge and mentoring sessions to foster the prototype developments.

The exhibition in November 2022 marked the end presentation after the concept and prototypes have been developed for 1,5 years.

The created prototypes, however, will travel further and will be next exhibited at ZKM Karlsruhe in Spring/Summer 2023.

The project is jointly led by four partner institutions – acatech (National Academy of Science and Engineering), Forecast, the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design and ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and supported by the German Federal Ministry.

Find out more about the full Driving the Human event as well as more details on the Human-Bacteria Interfaces Project.