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REIMAGINING OURSELVES FOR FUTURE WORLDS | Michael Burton & Michiko Nitta | TEDxUniversityofBolton


so who are we and who or what will we be

so who are we and who or what will we be in the future we’re not talking about

in the future we’re not talking about

in the future we’re not talking about future as in tomorrow next year

future as in tomorrow next year

future as in tomorrow next year but the further future when our

but the further future when our

but the further future when our consequences of the human activities

consequences of the human activities

consequences of the human activities might change us dramatically and when we

might change us dramatically and when we

might change us dramatically and when we think about the future you we were

think about the future you we were

think about the future you we were interested in the whole you the network

interested in the whole you the network

interested in the whole you the network of bacteria fungus and other microbes

of bacteria fungus and other microbes

of bacteria fungus and other microbes that creates the whole you and we’re

that creates the whole you and we’re

that creates the whole you and we’re inspired when scientists cordis the

inspired when scientists cordis the

inspired when scientists cordis the human super organism so we are super all

human super organism so we are super all

human super organism so we are super all together this different way of looking

together this different way of looking

together this different way of looking at ourselves as a massive living thing

at ourselves as a massive living thing

at ourselves as a massive living thing inspire other our artwork and vision the

inspire other our artwork and vision the

inspire other our artwork and vision the super organism concept let us explore

super organism concept let us explore

super organism concept let us explore endless possibilities human can evolve

endless possibilities human can evolve

endless possibilities human can evolve into with the help of disruptive

into with the help of disruptive

into with the help of disruptive technologies and so when we think about

technologies and so when we think about

technologies and so when we think about the popular views of the future they

the popular views of the future they

the popular views of the future they were given often in films for instance

were given often in films for instance

were given often in films for instance they’re often clinical or sterile and

they’re often clinical or sterile and

they’re often clinical or sterile and out of sync

out of sync

out of sync to what we actually are is the human

to what we actually are is the human

to what we actually are is the human super organism so we collaborate

super organism so we collaborate

super organism so we collaborate together and use our different cultural

together and use our different cultural

together and use our different cultural lenses to try and form new visions of

lenses to try and form new visions of

lenses to try and form new visions of that alternative us in the future so I

that alternative us in the future so I

that alternative us in the future so I grew up in Tokyo the ultimate artificial

grew up in Tokyo the ultimate artificial

grew up in Tokyo the ultimate artificial city I was reading manga watching

city I was reading manga watching

city I was reading manga watching animation and playing game with my

animation and playing game with my

animation and playing game with my friends and family happily living in

friends and family happily living in

friends and family happily living in multiple artificial world even the

multiple artificial world even the

multiple artificial world even the public toilet there’s this machine which

public toilet there’s this machine which

public toilet there’s this machine which makes this water flushing sound to erase

makes this water flushing sound to erase

makes this water flushing sound to erase any of

any of

any of not real human sound and I left a

not real human sound and I left a

not real human sound and I left a defined I came to the realization that

defined I came to the realization that

defined I came to the realization that this Darrell Ward is somehow out of sync

this Darrell Ward is somehow out of sync

this Darrell Ward is somehow out of sync with my biological myself and I grew up

with my biological myself and I grew up

with my biological myself and I grew up here on a farm in the pens in Cambridge

here on a farm in the pens in Cambridge

here on a farm in the pens in Cambridge here and as you can see it’s really flat

here and as you can see it’s really flat

here and as you can see it’s really flat but it gives a space to observe their

but it gives a space to observe their

but it gives a space to observe their changing cycles of nature and the

changing cycles of nature and the

changing cycles of nature and the seasons but this too is artificially

seasons but this too is artificially

seasons but this too is artificially sustained with a network of drains and

sustained with a network of drains and

sustained with a network of drains and pumping stations that maintain this

pumping stations that maintain this

pumping stations that maintain this landscape from reverting back into a

landscape from reverting back into a

landscape from reverting back into a marshland that it formerly was as a

marshland that it formerly was as a

marshland that it formerly was as a consequence it’s continually sinking and

consequence it’s continually sinking and

consequence it’s continually sinking and at the risk of soil erosion as well so

at the risk of soil erosion as well so

at the risk of soil erosion as well so as artists we think a lot about the

as artists we think a lot about the

as artists we think a lot about the future and when we talk about the future

future and when we talk about the future

future and when we talk about the future we never try to solve the problem nor

we never try to solve the problem nor

we never try to solve the problem nor predictor of the future we are creating

predictor of the future we are creating

predictor of the future we are creating again this space for us to explore

again this space for us to explore

again this space for us to explore endless possibilities human can evolve

endless possibilities human can evolve

endless possibilities human can evolve into and this can change according to

into and this can change according to

into and this can change according to our desires and dream back in the day we

our desires and dream back in the day we

our desires and dream back in the day we used to be a hunter-gatherer and 10,000

used to be a hunter-gatherer and 10,000

used to be a hunter-gatherer and 10,000 years ago we made a big leap in human

years ago we made a big leap in human

years ago we made a big leap in human evolution we set the fast seat and

evolution we set the fast seat and

evolution we set the fast seat and started to store the crops here began

started to store the crops here began

started to store the crops here began the agricultural revolution and so when

the agricultural revolution and so when

the agricultural revolution and so when we think of the future were actually

we think of the future were actually

we think of the future were actually really excited about what our dreams and

really excited about what our dreams and

really excited about what our dreams and desires reveal about today enough today

desires reveal about today enough today

desires reveal about today enough today so our alternative visions that we

so our alternative visions that we

so our alternative visions that we create in our work try to unveil in our

create in our work try to unveil in our

create in our work try to unveil in our masks what we are as human animals and

masks what we are as human animals and

masks what we are as human animals and the human condition but also how these

the human condition but also how these

the human condition but also how these visions can create alternatives to how

visions can create alternatives to how

visions can create alternatives to how we might approach our biggest problems

we might approach our biggest problems

we might approach our biggest problems today such as how do we feed an

today such as how do we feed an

today such as how do we feed an overpopulated world so here this our

overpopulated world so here this our

overpopulated world so here this our first collaboration project called our

first collaboration project called our

first collaboration project called our culture when we thought about the food

culture when we thought about the food

culture when we thought about the food shortage in the future it was very

shortage in the future it was very

shortage in the future it was very important for us to change the question

important for us to change the question

important for us to change the question from what we will eat to how do we

from what we will eat to how do we

from what we will eat to how do we our body alternatively so big

our body alternatively so big

our body alternatively so big inspiration came from this amazing

inspiration came from this amazing

inspiration came from this amazing organism called Le Coq Latika it’s a sea

organism called Le Coq Latika it’s a sea

organism called Le Coq Latika it’s a sea slug which evolved to have a new organ

slug which evolved to have a new organ

slug which evolved to have a new organ on its back containing the algae they

on its back containing the algae they

on its back containing the algae they they with this new organ they are able

they with this new organ they are able

they with this new organ they are able to get the energy from the Sun Sun from

to get the energy from the Sun Sun from

to get the energy from the Sun Sun from the this through this algae it’s like

the this through this algae it’s like

the this through this algae it’s like photosynthesizing of the plant and who

photosynthesizing of the plant and who

photosynthesizing of the plant and who wouldn’t want to gain that ability

wouldn’t want to gain that ability

wouldn’t want to gain that ability that’s a pretty amazing organism and for

that’s a pretty amazing organism and for

that’s a pretty amazing organism and for us it was our challenge and this is our

us it was our challenge and this is our

us it was our challenge and this is our first prototype suit that we created to

first prototype suit that we created to

first prototype suit that we created to really explore the potential

really explore the potential

really explore the potential relationships between the body and the

relationships between the body and the

relationships between the body and the algae for instance the algae can absorb

algae for instance the algae can absorb

algae for instance the algae can absorb the carbon dioxide from our breath and

the carbon dioxide from our breath and

the carbon dioxide from our breath and in return suppliers with oxygen and then

in return suppliers with oxygen and then

in return suppliers with oxygen and then also the suit allows us to harvest that

also the suit allows us to harvest that

also the suit allows us to harvest that Algy to create food when we created this

Algy to create food when we created this

Algy to create food when we created this Tsubasa suit we quickly realized we need

Tsubasa suit we quickly realized we need

Tsubasa suit we quickly realized we need to reimagine ourselves in this Alka

to reimagine ourselves in this Alka

to reimagine ourselves in this Alka culture award the moment you wake up in

culture award the moment you wake up in

culture award the moment you wake up in the morning perhaps your bed doesn’t

the morning perhaps your bed doesn’t

the morning perhaps your bed doesn’t look like your bed anymore to where your

look like your bed anymore to where your

look like your bed anymore to where your house will be situated maybe near the

house will be situated maybe near the

house will be situated maybe near the water

water

water maybe we need to redesign our city

maybe we need to redesign our city

maybe we need to redesign our city completely to follow the journey of the

completely to follow the journey of the

completely to follow the journey of the Sun and then we were looking for the

Sun and then we were looking for the

Sun and then we were looking for the perfect body to power our suits and we

perfect body to power our suits and we

perfect body to power our suits and we turned to the opera singer for the

turned to the opera singer for the

turned to the opera singer for the amazing lung capacity in the controlled

amazing lung capacity in the controlled

amazing lung capacity in the controlled breath and the same time we were really

breath and the same time we were really

breath and the same time we were really inspired by research by Professor

inspired by research by Professor

inspired by research by Professor Charles Spence on the sonic enhancement

Charles Spence on the sonic enhancement

Charles Spence on the sonic enhancement of taste which added an extra input into

of taste which added an extra input into

of taste which added an extra input into the project and we collaborated with

the project and we collaborated with

the project and we collaborated with composer Mark Matt Rogers to work on a

composer Mark Matt Rogers to work on a

composer Mark Matt Rogers to work on a new score for the algae opera that used

new score for the algae opera that used

new score for the algae opera that used some of these techniques of the sonic

some of these techniques of the sonic

some of these techniques of the sonic enhancement of taste and here you can

enhancement of taste and here you can

enhancement of taste and here you can see a chef harvesting the algae produced

see a chef harvesting the algae produced

see a chef harvesting the algae produced from the suit from the algae absorbing

from the suit from the algae absorbing

from the suit from the algae absorbing the breath of the singer that algae is

the breath of the singer that algae is

the breath of the singer that algae is there made into sushi to feed back to

there made into sushi to feed back to

there made into sushi to feed back to the audience and as the audience is

the audience and as the audience is

the audience and as the audience is eating and listening to the song her

eating and listening to the song her

eating and listening to the song her song

song

song heightening your bittersweet taste

heightening your bittersweet taste

heightening your bittersweet taste perception in the further future the

perception in the further future the

perception in the further future the ultimate aim is how can I I’ll be really

ultimate aim is how can I I’ll be really

ultimate aim is how can I I’ll be really integrate into our bodies and say this

integrate into our bodies and say this

integrate into our bodies and say this is our fervent future vision of how the

is our fervent future vision of how the

is our fervent future vision of how the human super organism is added to with

human super organism is added to with

human super organism is added to with the algae to give us new abilities in

the algae to give us new abilities in

the algae to give us new abilities in making the work we quickly realize we’re

making the work we quickly realize we’re

making the work we quickly realize we’re going to have to sacrifice some of our

going to have to sacrifice some of our

going to have to sacrifice some of our traditional food cultures currently but

traditional food cultures currently but

traditional food cultures currently but there is endless possibilities to create

there is endless possibilities to create

there is endless possibilities to create new ones

new ones

new ones this super organism concept doesn’t just

this super organism concept doesn’t just

this super organism concept doesn’t just stop at our odd artwork we also aim to

stop at our odd artwork we also aim to

stop at our odd artwork we also aim to work in a superorganism way this

work in a superorganism way this

work in a superorganism way this inspiration came when we collaborated

inspiration came when we collaborated

inspiration came when we collaborated with the team of the scientists working

with the team of the scientists working

with the team of the scientists working on a project called cleaning lung for

on a project called cleaning lung for

on a project called cleaning lung for wealth we were really excited to see

wealth we were really excited to see

wealth we were really excited to see that different technologies science and

that different technologies science and

that different technologies science and disbelief and organisms working together

disbelief and organisms working together

disbelief and organisms working together to create this system which might become

to create this system which might become

to create this system which might become a big leap in human evolution scientists

a big leap in human evolution scientists

a big leap in human evolution scientists were from the background of plant

were from the background of plant

were from the background of plant biologist nanotechnologist synthetic

biologist nanotechnologist synthetic

biologist nanotechnologist synthetic biology bioenergy and the process

biology bioenergy and the process

biology bioenergy and the process intensification so they were looking at

intensification so they were looking at

intensification so they were looking at how to clean the contaminated site like

how to clean the contaminated site like

how to clean the contaminated site like ex mining site they used the plant to

ex mining site they used the plant to

ex mining site they used the plant to absorb the contaminating metals like

absorb the contaminating metals like

absorb the contaminating metals like arsenic out of the land and then harvest

arsenic out of the land and then harvest

arsenic out of the land and then harvest the plant and feed to engineered

the plant and feed to engineered

the plant and feed to engineered bacteria this engineered bacteria has

bacteria this engineered bacteria has

bacteria this engineered bacteria has ability to extract out the contaminating

ability to extract out the contaminating

ability to extract out the contaminating metals and convert into nano form once

metals and convert into nano form once

metals and convert into nano form once it the metals are in nano form then it

it the metals are in nano form then it

it the metals are in nano form then it becomes suddenly useful for humans like

becomes suddenly useful for humans like

becomes suddenly useful for humans like being catalysts for hydrogen fuel-cell

being catalysts for hydrogen fuel-cell

being catalysts for hydrogen fuel-cell they were making this thing as a

they were making this thing as a

they were making this thing as a circular economy to sustain by itself

circular economy to sustain by itself

circular economy to sustain by itself but for us it was really excited to see

but for us it was really excited to see

but for us it was really excited to see that it’s erasing the mistakes of the

that it’s erasing the mistakes of the

that it’s erasing the mistakes of the past it was from here the erasing

past it was from here the erasing

past it was from here the erasing mistakes of the past that we were

mistakes of the past that we were

mistakes of the past that we were inspired to imagine okay so we’ve got

inspired to imagine okay so we’ve got

inspired to imagine okay so we’ve got this clean land and we don’t want to

this clean land and we don’t want to

this clean land and we don’t want to make

make

make mistakes again so what are the new ways

mistakes again so what are the new ways

mistakes again so what are the new ways that we can relate to how we extract

that we can relate to how we extract

that we can relate to how we extract resources from the environment and how

resources from the environment and how

resources from the environment and how we could be in the world around us so we

we could be in the world around us so we

we could be in the world around us so we formed a concept that’s called the

formed a concept that’s called the

formed a concept that’s called the transformer sphere and we used it to

transformer sphere and we used it to

transformer sphere and we used it to navigate all of the different individual

navigate all of the different individual

navigate all of the different individual technologies that the scientists were

technologies that the scientists were

technologies that the scientists were using and also to get a grip on the

using and also to get a grip on the

using and also to get a grip on the sense of scales that they were using so

sense of scales that they were using so

sense of scales that they were using so it ran from the Nano the very small to

it ran from the Nano the very small to

it ran from the Nano the very small to the planetary level and in terms of

the planetary level and in terms of

the planetary level and in terms of timescales that were talking about the

timescales that were talking about the

timescales that were talking about the past and the future and for us the

past and the future and for us the

past and the future and for us the transformer sphere then enabled us to

transformer sphere then enabled us to

transformer sphere then enabled us to really critically engage with what are

really critically engage with what are

really critically engage with what are the consequences of when all of these

the consequences of when all of these

the consequences of when all of these individual technologies come together

individual technologies come together

individual technologies come together into a whole but also a space for us to

into a whole but also a space for us to

into a whole but also a space for us to imagine how we can do things differently

imagine how we can do things differently

imagine how we can do things differently how we can act differently in the

how we can act differently in the

how we can act differently in the environment and to make things but also

environment and to make things but also

environment and to make things but also any way of being for us so how can we

any way of being for us so how can we

any way of being for us so how can we live differently not to make same

live differently not to make same

live differently not to make same mistakes again

mistakes again

mistakes again how can we extend our human ability to

how can we extend our human ability to

how can we extend our human ability to be able to thrive in this contaminated

be able to thrive in this contaminated

be able to thrive in this contaminated world this led to our current project

world this led to our current project

world this led to our current project for the landscape within and we were so

for the landscape within and we were so

for the landscape within and we were so excited to see the ability of this

excited to see the ability of this

excited to see the ability of this engineered bacteria which can extract

engineered bacteria which can extract

engineered bacteria which can extract out the contaminated metals such as

out the contaminated metals such as

out the contaminated metals such as arsenic and platinum and converts into

arsenic and platinum and converts into

arsenic and platinum and converts into this nano metals and these are the

this nano metals and these are the

this nano metals and these are the developed by hosts for lab at the

developed by hosts for lab at the

developed by hosts for lab at the University of Edinburgh we also wanted

University of Edinburgh we also wanted

University of Edinburgh we also wanted to learn what is the effect of the

to learn what is the effect of the

to learn what is the effect of the contaminating heavy metals so he we

contaminating heavy metals so he we

contaminating heavy metals so he we invited dr. Susan Hudson the

invited dr. Susan Hudson the

invited dr. Susan Hudson the environmental epidemiologist at Imperial

environmental epidemiologist at Imperial

environmental epidemiologist at Imperial College London who investigates the

College London who investigates the

College London who investigates the health effects of heavy metal

health effects of heavy metal

health effects of heavy metal contamination with the workshop with her

contamination with the workshop with her

contamination with the workshop with her we learned that the these contaminating

we learned that the these contaminating

we learned that the these contaminating metals can affect our body but also our

metals can affect our body but also our

metals can affect our body but also our mind

mind

mind for example the long-term exposure of

for example the long-term exposure of

for example the long-term exposure of arsenic can causes cancer the mercury

arsenic can causes cancer the mercury

arsenic can causes cancer the mercury can affect the neurological development

can affect the neurological development

can affect the neurological development of the fetus and finally lead can lower

of the fetus and finally lead can lower

of the fetus and finally lead can lower our IQ level so once we started to learn

our IQ level so once we started to learn

our IQ level so once we started to learn about the health effects of these heavy

about the health effects of these heavy

about the health effects of these heavy metals in our contaminated land it

metals in our contaminated land it

metals in our contaminated land it really for us redefined the boundaries

really for us redefined the boundaries

really for us redefined the boundaries of the body in the landscape and when we

of the body in the landscape and when we

of the body in the landscape and when we imagine there and see the guts it really

imagine there and see the guts it really

imagine there and see the guts it really is a tube of in our body inviting the

is a tube of in our body inviting the

is a tube of in our body inviting the external landscape into our internal

external landscape into our internal

external landscape into our internal landscape through foods and we started

landscape through foods and we started

landscape through foods and we started with two food plants that are important

with two food plants that are important

with two food plants that are important to us culturally the rice plant that has

to us culturally the rice plant that has

to us culturally the rice plant that has an amazing ability to absorb arsenic

an amazing ability to absorb arsenic

an amazing ability to absorb arsenic from contaminated land and wheat

from contaminated land and wheat

from contaminated land and wheat similarly can absorb lead and when we

similarly can absorb lead and when we

similarly can absorb lead and when we think about these contamination ones

think about these contamination ones

think about these contamination ones waste and we think we throw away the

waste and we think we throw away the

waste and we think we throw away the waste it’s never really away it can come

waste it’s never really away it can come

waste it’s never really away it can come back to us at some point we witness this

back to us at some point we witness this

back to us at some point we witness this in a supermarket where foods are sourced

in a supermarket where foods are sourced

in a supermarket where foods are sourced on a global scale for example fish fish

on a global scale for example fish fish

on a global scale for example fish fish some of the fish travels all over the

some of the fish travels all over the

some of the fish travels all over the world exposing themselves to the

world exposing themselves to the

world exposing themselves to the contaminating mercury and then it can

contaminating mercury and then it can

contaminating mercury and then it can come back to our dining table we’re

come back to our dining table we’re

come back to our dining table we’re really living in the borderless world

really living in the borderless world

really living in the borderless world yeah through a borderless world but also

yeah through a borderless world but also

yeah through a borderless world but also we live in the Anthropocene era an era

we live in the Anthropocene era an era

we live in the Anthropocene era an era that’s been remade by humans and

that’s been remade by humans and

that’s been remade by humans and literally remaking the soil beneath our

literally remaking the soil beneath our

literally remaking the soil beneath our feet and so an important question that

feet and so an important question that

feet and so an important question that we asked ourselves in the landscape of

we asked ourselves in the landscape of

we asked ourselves in the landscape of in project was if there is no escape

in project was if there is no escape

in project was if there is no escape from the contaminated world how can we

from the contaminated world how can we

from the contaminated world how can we adapt to live in a world of our making

adapt to live in a world of our making

adapt to live in a world of our making so we created this external digestive

so we created this external digestive

so we created this external digestive machine which can extract out the heavy

machine which can extract out the heavy

machine which can extract out the heavy metal contamination out of our fruit we

metal contamination out of our fruit we

metal contamination out of our fruit we using this horse for labs engineered

using this horse for labs engineered

using this horse for labs engineered bacteria in this case we’re using rice

bacteria in this case we’re using rice

bacteria in this case we’re using rice and this bacteria will be extracting out

and this bacteria will be extracting out

and this bacteria will be extracting out the arsenic from our rice which creating

the arsenic from our rice which creating

the arsenic from our rice which creating safer food to eat but why stop there

safer food to eat but why stop there

safer food to eat but why stop there because we’re using technology in this

because we’re using technology in this

because we’re using technology in this case and engineer bacteria to mediate

case and engineer bacteria to mediate

case and engineer bacteria to mediate between body food and landscape there’s

between body food and landscape there’s

between body food and landscape there’s new potentials and so for us we inserted

new potentials and so for us we inserted

new potentials and so for us we inserted fluorescent red genes into the bacteria

fluorescent red genes into the bacteria

fluorescent red genes into the bacteria so our food could potentially tell us if

so our food could potentially tell us if

so our food could potentially tell us if it’s safe or not to eat creating new

it’s safe or not to eat creating new

it’s safe or not to eat creating new dining experiences of eating in the dark

dining experiences of eating in the dark

dining experiences of eating in the dark and then for the further future we

and then for the further future we

and then for the further future we reimagined ourselves to have organ which

reimagined ourselves to have organ which

reimagined ourselves to have organ which contains these engineered bacteria which

contains these engineered bacteria which

contains these engineered bacteria which is cleaning out the co heavy metal

is cleaning out the co heavy metal

is cleaning out the co heavy metal contamination from our body but also it

contamination from our body but also it

contamination from our body but also it allows us to mind our body to create the

allows us to mind our body to create the

allows us to mind our body to create the new material for the future so to sum up

new material for the future so to sum up

new material for the future so to sum up and return back to our opening questions

and return back to our opening questions

and return back to our opening questions so who are we well as a human super

so who are we well as a human super

so who are we well as a human super organism we are a collaboration and a

organism we are a collaboration and a

organism we are a collaboration and a collaboration of different organisms

collaboration of different organisms

collaboration of different organisms different technologies as people were

different technologies as people were

different technologies as people were elaboration with different people with

elaboration with different people with

elaboration with different people with different disciplines and different

different disciplines and different

different disciplines and different backgrounds but who or what will we be

backgrounds but who or what will we be

backgrounds but who or what will we be in the future with the Transformers for

in the future with the Transformers for

in the future with the Transformers for your idea we create this space for

your idea we create this space for

your idea we create this space for everyone to join exploration for endless

everyone to join exploration for endless

everyone to join exploration for endless possibilities human can evolve into

possibilities human can evolve into

possibilities human can evolve into which can change according to our dreams

which can change according to our dreams

which can change according to our dreams and desires and it might ask us to

and desires and it might ask us to

and desires and it might ask us to sacrifice some of our humanness however

sacrifice some of our humanness however

sacrifice some of our humanness however is it sacrificing our humaneness or is

is it sacrificing our humaneness or is

is it sacrificing our humaneness or is it just asking us to redefine what it is

it just asking us to redefine what it is

it just asking us to redefine what it is to be human

to be human

to be human thank you very much

thank you very much

thank you very much [Applause]

”

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