Growing the next generation of biodesigners | Emma van der Leest | TEDxRotterdam

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

imagine if we could grow mother-of-pearl

imagine if we could grow mother-of-pearl to create a new car paint for Tesla

to create a new car paint for Tesla

to create a new car paint for Tesla instead of using chemical paints or what

instead of using chemical paints or what

instead of using chemical paints or what if we could grow pigments producing

if we could grow pigments producing

if we could grow pigments producing bacteria to dye your new bag these

bacteria to dye your new bag these

bacteria to dye your new bag these examples may sound like science fiction

examples may sound like science fiction

examples may sound like science fiction but they are science facts and actually

but they are science facts and actually

but they are science facts and actually these are examples of bio design the

these are examples of bio design the

these are examples of bio design the process of integrating living organisms

process of integrating living organisms

process of integrating living organisms in the design process so for example

in the design process so for example

in the design process so for example bacteria algae fungi or any other cells

bacteria algae fungi or any other cells

bacteria algae fungi or any other cells but these examples are still made in a

but these examples are still made in a

but these examples are still made in a laboratory and where do I go to as

laboratory and where do I go to as

laboratory and where do I go to as designer to learn these skills I don’t

designer to learn these skills I don’t

designer to learn these skills I don’t know and if you want to grow a

know and if you want to grow a

know and if you want to grow a sustainable future

sustainable future

sustainable future we need more by designers who literally

we need more by designers who literally

we need more by designers who literally make this happen work on these fields

make this happen work on these fields

make this happen work on these fields work together with scientist and as a

work together with scientist and as a

work together with scientist and as a first-year year product design students

first-year year product design students

first-year year product design students at the withum de Kooning my curiosity

at the withum de Kooning my curiosity

at the withum de Kooning my curiosity for micro organisms didn’t start at

for micro organisms didn’t start at

for micro organisms didn’t start at university didn’t start in the

university didn’t start in the

university didn’t start in the laboratory but started in a boy months

laboratory but started in a boy months

laboratory but started in a boy months from burning a museum here in Rotterdam

from burning a museum here in Rotterdam

from burning a museum here in Rotterdam what do you think of this jacket looks

what do you think of this jacket looks

what do you think of this jacket looks soft shiny but actually it’s made by

soft shiny but actually it’s made by

soft shiny but actually it’s made by bacteria yes I was so fascinating by

bacteria yes I was so fascinating by

bacteria yes I was so fascinating by seeing this that we could literally grow

seeing this that we could literally grow

seeing this that we could literally grow something with bacteria that I was

something with bacteria that I was

something with bacteria that I was determined to grow this at home so I

determined to grow this at home so I

determined to grow this at home so I found out that the recipe to make this

found out that the recipe to make this

found out that the recipe to make this is actually green tea sugar and acetic

is actually green tea sugar and acetic

is actually green tea sugar and acetic vinegar

vinegar

vinegar and you need a bacterial culture via

and you need a bacterial culture via

and you need a bacterial culture via some YouTube videos from Suzanne

some YouTube videos from Suzanne

some YouTube videos from Suzanne designer I found out that these bacteria

designer I found out that these bacteria

designer I found out that these bacteria could spin a nano fiber from pure

could spin a nano fiber from pure

could spin a nano fiber from pure cellulose and Suzanne the designer of

cellulose and Suzanne the designer of

cellulose and Suzanne the designer of the jacket wrote a book about the future

the jacket wrote a book about the future

the jacket wrote a book about the future of fashion and she met a biologist who

of fashion and she met a biologist who

of fashion and she met a biologist who told her that we could actually grow our

told her that we could actually grow our

told her that we could actually grow our garments in vats of liquid but I had to

garments in vats of liquid but I had to

garments in vats of liquid but I had to get hold of a bacterial culture and

get hold of a bacterial culture and

get hold of a bacterial culture and actually with this nutrient solution you

actually with this nutrient solution you

actually with this nutrient solution you can also make a fermenting tea and I

can also make a fermenting tea and I

can also make a fermenting tea and I found out that in a new-age shop in

found out that in a new-age shop in

found out that in a new-age shop in Rotterdam we can also buy other

Rotterdam we can also buy other

Rotterdam we can also buy other scientific stuff like incense healing

scientific stuff like incense healing

scientific stuff like incense healing stones and salt lamps there was an old

stones and salt lamps there was an old

stones and salt lamps there was an old lady who had a little bacterial culture

lady who had a little bacterial culture

lady who had a little bacterial culture for me so I took it home and quickly

for me so I took it home and quickly

for me so I took it home and quickly according to my friends my student dorm

according to my friends my student dorm

according to my friends my student dorm changed into an acetic biohazard because

changed into an acetic biohazard because

changed into an acetic biohazard because actually the bacteria eat sugar and

actually the bacteria eat sugar and

actually the bacteria eat sugar and produced his nano fiber on the top this

produced his nano fiber on the top this

produced his nano fiber on the top this jellies stuff if you dry it down you get

jellies stuff if you dry it down you get

jellies stuff if you dry it down you get something like a vegetable leather and

something like a vegetable leather and

something like a vegetable leather and actually I was determined to be

actually I was determined to be

actually I was determined to be Suzanne’s intern I wanted to go to

Suzanne’s intern I wanted to go to

Suzanne’s intern I wanted to go to London to be here intern and collaborate

London to be here intern and collaborate

London to be here intern and collaborate with scientists and actually I got a

with scientists and actually I got a

with scientists and actually I got a little bit disappointed when she told me

little bit disappointed when she told me

little bit disappointed when she told me she was looking for a biology student

she was looking for a biology student

she was looking for a biology student instead of a product design student and

instead of a product design student and

instead of a product design student and I had to persist over months sending

I had to persist over months sending

I had to persist over months sending letters in order to persuade her and I

letters in order to persuade her and I

letters in order to persuade her and I succeed because this is an image of the

succeed because this is an image of the

succeed because this is an image of the studio and during my internship I met

studio and during my internship I met

studio and during my internship I met scientists I’ve met amazing corporate

scientists I’ve met amazing corporate

scientists I’ve met amazing corporate companies who are willing to integrate

companies who are willing to integrate

companies who are willing to integrate these living materials in a production

these living materials in a production

these living materials in a production process and actually imagine a material

process and actually imagine a material

process and actually imagine a material which is not woven but grown in vats

which is not woven but grown in vats

which is not woven but grown in vats like this where designers engineers and

like this where designers engineers and

like this where designers engineers and scientists

scientists

scientists work on these new future materials again

work on these new future materials again

work on these new future materials again I was determined to follow the material

I was determined to follow the material

I was determined to follow the material science minor at tu Delft but I got

science minor at tu Delft but I got

science minor at tu Delft but I got refused I know why because my skills of

refused I know why because my skills of

refused I know why because my skills of physics and mathematics what was quiet

physics and mathematics what was quiet

physics and mathematics what was quiet low and this was caused by my

low and this was caused by my

low and this was caused by my dyscalculia so it’s the trouble of

dyscalculia so it’s the trouble of

dyscalculia so it’s the trouble of reading numbers and formulas they said

reading numbers and formulas they said

reading numbers and formulas they said you should follow a design minor you’re

you should follow a design minor you’re

you should follow a design minor you’re a product designer you’re not a

a product designer you’re not a

a product designer you’re not a scientist and I was disappointed I

scientist and I was disappointed I

scientist and I was disappointed I thought man I need to get access to a

thought man I need to get access to a

thought man I need to get access to a lab I wanted to grow these materials I

lab I wanted to grow these materials I

lab I wanted to grow these materials I want to collaborate with scientists

want to collaborate with scientists

want to collaborate with scientists ditch shouldn’t beat his heart so I

ditch shouldn’t beat his heart so I

ditch shouldn’t beat his heart so I thought okay I followed the design and

thought okay I followed the design and

thought okay I followed the design and engineering minor at the University of

engineering minor at the University of

engineering minor at the University of Rotterdam and why I had a plan because

Rotterdam and why I had a plan because

Rotterdam and why I had a plan because in the same building the chemistry and

in the same building the chemistry and

in the same building the chemistry and biomedical department was housed so I

biomedical department was housed so I

biomedical department was housed so I was very close to a lab and when me in

was very close to a lab and when me in

was very close to a lab and when me in my group entered the lab and asked

my group entered the lab and asked

my group entered the lab and asked instructors if they are willing to help

instructors if they are willing to help

instructors if they are willing to help us they laughed at us they said sorry

us they laughed at us they said sorry

us they laughed at us they said sorry you’re not a biology student you cannot

you’re not a biology student you cannot

you’re not a biology student you cannot work here you don’t know anything about

work here you don’t know anything about

work here you don’t know anything about hygiene you don’t know anything about

hygiene you don’t know anything about

hygiene you don’t know anything about cells so refused again we were quite

cells so refused again we were quite

cells so refused again we were quite disappointed because the idea was to

disappointed because the idea was to

disappointed because the idea was to grow a packaging from mushrooms and from

grow a packaging from mushrooms and from

grow a packaging from mushrooms and from hemp so here you see an aquaponics

hemp so here you see an aquaponics

hemp so here you see an aquaponics system and an urban farm in Rotterdam

system and an urban farm in Rotterdam

system and an urban farm in Rotterdam and they use use these hemp mats in the

and they use use these hemp mats in the

and they use use these hemp mats in the system to grow leafy vegetables and

system to grow leafy vegetables and

system to grow leafy vegetables and herbs and after growing these plants the

herbs and after growing these plants the

herbs and after growing these plants the heap hemp Nets ended up on a compost

heap hemp Nets ended up on a compost

heap hemp Nets ended up on a compost heap such a shame because hemp is such a

heap such a shame because hemp is such a

heap such a shame because hemp is such a durable material they also grew shiitake

durable material they also grew shiitake

durable material they also grew shiitake mushrooms on these blocks of sadhus and

mushrooms on these blocks of sadhus and

mushrooms on these blocks of sadhus and actually we found out that mushrooms

actually we found out that mushrooms

actually we found out that mushrooms grow on any form of cellulose including

grow on any form of cellulose including

grow on any form of cellulose including hemp

hemp

hemp we thought maybe we can optimize their

we thought maybe we can optimize their

we thought maybe we can optimize their production process by combining the two

production process by combining the two

production process by combining the two so because we didn’t had a lab we had to

so because we didn’t had a lab we had to

so because we didn’t had a lab we had to build on one ourselves and here you see

build on one ourselves and here you see

build on one ourselves and here you see me with a Tupperware box some kitchen

me with a Tupperware box some kitchen

me with a Tupperware box some kitchen gloves trying to combine mushrooms and

gloves trying to combine mushrooms and

gloves trying to combine mushrooms and ham together I can tell you it wasn’t a

ham together I can tell you it wasn’t a

ham together I can tell you it wasn’t a success but here you see me in the lab

success but here you see me in the lab

success but here you see me in the lab because one of my friends was studying

because one of my friends was studying

because one of my friends was studying at University and I got her login

at University and I got her login

at University and I got her login details to get access to the library of

details to get access to the library of

details to get access to the library of the University so we found out that we

the University so we found out that we

the University so we found out that we found out the process of cultivating

found out the process of cultivating

found out the process of cultivating these mushrooms on hemp so we went back

these mushrooms on hemp so we went back

these mushrooms on hemp so we went back to the lab at the University and we said

to the lab at the University and we said

to the lab at the University and we said hey we prove their knowledge so can we

hey we prove their knowledge so can we

hey we prove their knowledge so can we get access right now and it was bingo

and here you see my old pickled jars

and here you see my old pickled jars jars for my pickles we had to inoculate

jars for my pickles we had to inoculate

jars for my pickles we had to inoculate so put mushrooms onto the hand mats and

so put mushrooms onto the hand mats and

so put mushrooms onto the hand mats and we didn’t really had a nice box to do

we didn’t really had a nice box to do

we didn’t really had a nice box to do that so we use these glass jars so what

that so we use these glass jars so what

that so we use these glass jars so what we did we put the seeds of the mushroom

we did we put the seeds of the mushroom

we did we put the seeds of the mushroom onto the use hand mats and waited for a

onto the use hand mats and waited for a

onto the use hand mats and waited for a couple of days and then it become

couple of days and then it become

couple of days and then it become completely white and this white stuff is

completely white and this white stuff is

completely white and this white stuff is called mycelium which is the veget of

called mycelium which is the veget of

called mycelium which is the veget of part of a mushroom growing under the

part of a mushroom growing under the

part of a mushroom growing under the ground and actually this mycelium took

ground and actually this mycelium took

ground and actually this mycelium took over the complete mess and if you dry it

over the complete mess and if you dry it

over the complete mess and if you dry it down and cut it out you get a very

down and cut it out you get a very

down and cut it out you get a very lightweight material and actually these

lightweight material and actually these

lightweight material and actually these are properties of a mushroom its water

are properties of a mushroom its water

are properties of a mushroom its water water repellents it’s fire resistant and

water repellents it’s fire resistant and

water repellents it’s fire resistant and it’s super lightweight ideal for

it’s super lightweight ideal for

it’s super lightweight ideal for packaging and this was our first results

packaging and this was our first results

packaging and this was our first results I was very happy with it but I know it

I was very happy with it but I know it

I was very happy with it but I know it looks a little bit gross

but why do you buy those blue packaging

but why do you buy those blue packaging in the supermarkets with mushrooms

in the supermarkets with mushrooms

in the supermarkets with mushrooms because it’s easy to stack in your

because it’s easy to stack in your

because it’s easy to stack in your fridge

fridge

fridge actually this one is made from mushroom

actually this one is made from mushroom

actually this one is made from mushroom itself it’s made with a waste stream and

itself it’s made with a waste stream and

itself it’s made with a waste stream and actually with this process we optimized

actually with this process we optimized

actually with this process we optimized a production system at the urban farm

a production system at the urban farm

a production system at the urban farm and this was really a kickstart for me

and this was really a kickstart for me

and this was really a kickstart for me to collaborate with scientist and to

to collaborate with scientist and to

to collaborate with scientist and to work in a lab although it was quite hard

work in a lab although it was quite hard

work in a lab although it was quite hard and during I had to I had to graduate

and during I had to I had to graduate

and during I had to I had to graduate and I had a serious identity crisis

and I had a serious identity crisis

and I had a serious identity crisis because I thought I’m not a biologist

because I thought I’m not a biologist

because I thought I’m not a biologist I’m certainly not the scientist but I’m

I’m certainly not the scientist but I’m

I’m certainly not the scientist but I’m not a classic product designer and I was

not a classic product designer and I was

not a classic product designer and I was trying to to find my new role as

trying to to find my new role as

trying to to find my new role as designer so I went back to London where

designer so I went back to London where

designer so I went back to London where I worked next to PhD students at the

I worked next to PhD students at the

I worked next to PhD students at the University of London to see Africa well

University of London to see Africa well

University of London to see Africa well to find my identity and I’ve published

to find my identity and I’ve published

to find my identity and I’ve published this book form follows organism and it’s

this book form follows organism and it’s

this book form follows organism and it’s a research about this new role of

a research about this new role of

a research about this new role of designer we have where we have to create

designer we have where we have to create

designer we have where we have to create a new language where I have to design

a new language where I have to design

a new language where I have to design differently where we have to merge

differently where we have to merge

differently where we have to merge fields of design technology and biology

fields of design technology and biology

fields of design technology and biology together and by showing examples from

together and by showing examples from

together and by showing examples from the industry I try to explain the new

the industry I try to explain the new

the industry I try to explain the new roles your workshop is changing from a

roles your workshop is changing from a

roles your workshop is changing from a standard workshop to a laboratory and I

standard workshop to a laboratory and I

standard workshop to a laboratory and I worked with a smart ogre organism who

worked with a smart ogre organism who

worked with a smart ogre organism who could basically design even better

could basically design even better

could basically design even better shapes than I could ever imagine because

shapes than I could ever imagine because

shapes than I could ever imagine because this organism could actually based on

this organism could actually based on

this organism could actually based on this algorithm optimized geometric

this algorithm optimized geometric

this algorithm optimized geometric patterns and shapes I thought ok we are

patterns and shapes I thought ok we are

patterns and shapes I thought ok we are able to grow these new materials but

able to grow these new materials but

able to grow these new materials but where do I go to I need to create a

where do I go to I need to create a

where do I go to I need to create a place and how amazing would it be to

place and how amazing would it be to

place and how amazing would it be to create a laboratory where everyone can

create a laboratory where everyone can

create a laboratory where everyone can access where they learn about biology

access where they learn about biology

access where they learn about biology and technology

and technology

and technology and in 2016 I became part of the blue

and in 2016 I became part of the blue

and in 2016 I became part of the blue city team and the former Tropicana

city team and the former Tropicana

city team and the former Tropicana swimming pool blue city is an example of

swimming pool blue city is an example of

swimming pool blue city is an example of the blue economy where we create jobs

the blue economy where we create jobs

the blue economy where we create jobs where we create new business models and

where we create new business models and

where we create new business models and where we create new products from waste

where we create new products from waste

where we create new products from waste streams and bacteria and I can tell you

streams and bacteria and I can tell you

streams and bacteria and I can tell you the formal locker rooms it’s an ideal

the formal locker rooms it’s an ideal

the formal locker rooms it’s an ideal place for cultivating mushrooms and to

place for cultivating mushrooms and to

place for cultivating mushrooms and to design new fermenting processes and this

design new fermenting processes and this

design new fermenting processes and this is where the blue city lab is arising in

is where the blue city lab is arising in

is where the blue city lab is arising in the lab we make it more easier for

the lab we make it more easier for

the lab we make it more easier for designers and scientists to collaborate

designers and scientists to collaborate

designers and scientists to collaborate so we have a wet lab where we literally

so we have a wet lab where we literally

so we have a wet lab where we literally find new ways of using waste streams

find new ways of using waste streams

find new ways of using waste streams organic waste streams combined it with

organic waste streams combined it with

organic waste streams combined it with bacteria and fungi to optimize better

bacteria and fungi to optimize better

bacteria and fungi to optimize better materials and make them compostable and

materials and make them compostable and

materials and make them compostable and applicable we have a makerspace a

applicable we have a makerspace a

applicable we have a makerspace a workshop where we literally design a

workshop where we literally design a

workshop where we literally design a product from the sell to a scalable

product from the sell to a scalable

product from the sell to a scalable product and we have a taste up for

product and we have a taste up for

product and we have a taste up for religious shaped the acres of the future

religious shaped the acres of the future

religious shaped the acres of the future for example cultivating spirulina algae

for example cultivating spirulina algae

for example cultivating spirulina algae we create we apply and we share together

we create we apply and we share together

we create we apply and we share together in an open source environment and by

in an open source environment and by

in an open source environment and by lowering the threshold

lowering the threshold

lowering the threshold using biotechnology innovation and

using biotechnology innovation and

using biotechnology innovation and design will flourish and if we want to

design will flourish and if we want to

design will flourish and if we want to create a sustainable future we’ll not

create a sustainable future we’ll not

create a sustainable future we’ll not only need to design and grow new

only need to design and grow new

only need to design and grow new materials not only have to design

materials not only have to design

materials not only have to design differently we have to grow the next

differently we have to grow the next

differently we have to grow the next generation of by designers grow the

generation of by designers grow the

generation of by designers grow the future with us thank you

future with us thank you

future with us thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] you

you

you [Music]