As part of iGEM Championship Jamboree, the Internationally Genetically Engineered Machine competition run annually for undergraduate students to experiment with a kit of biological parts, the Synthetic Aesthetics research project will be running a seminar today at MIT Media Lab to discuss the collaboration between synthetic biology, art and design.

Synthetic Aesthetics is an ongoing interdisciplinary research project run by the University of Edinburgh and Stanford University that brings together scientists, engineers, artists and designers in collaborative projects to explore shared territory in the process, interaction and directions for future work with biological design. Follow their activities via @synthaes

Organized by Orkan Telhan (MIT Department of Architecture) and Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg (Design Fellow, Synthetic Aesthetics) the seminar will delve into synthetic biology, its relationship to design and art, and the diverse collaborations underway within Synthetic Aesthetics. The seminar will focus on what roles designers and artists can play in this nascent field of science and engineering, how synthetic biology can impact art and design and the role of biotechnology in our lives.

Bioengineer and BIOFAB founder Drew Endy will introduce the world of synthetic biology, Synthetic Aesthetics residents from science, design and art backgrounds will discuss their developing collaborations, and guest speakers will describe their own engagements within the field.

Speakers will include:

Drew Endy, Bioengineer, Stanford University Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Artist/Designer, UK Orkan Telhan, MIT Architecture Pablo Schyfter, Philosopher Of Technology, Stanford University Jane Calvert, Sociologist Of Science, Edinburgh University Fernan Federici, Plant Scientist, Cambridge University David Benjamin, Architect, Columbia University, NYC Sissel Tolaas, Smell Artist, Germany Christina Agapakis, Biologist, Harvard Medical School Sascha Pohflepp, Artist/designer, Germany (by skype) Sheref Mansy, Protocell scientist, University of Trento, Italy (by skype) Will Carey, Designer, IDEO Inc., Palo Alto (by Skype) Mac Cowell, DIYbio, Boston Yashas Shetty, Artist, ArtScience Bangalore, India Peter Yeadon, Designer, RISD/Decker Yeadon, NYC (by skype) Sergio Araya, Researcher, Computation, MIT Architecture