Living architecture pioneer Professor Rachel Armstrong joined me in conversation for the latest in the BIOfutures Instagram livestream series. A deep dive into the question of how living architectural materials, engineering, computing, and design might shape our future societies, our conversation explored the re-imagining of the city from the sub-atomic level upwards. We discussed how, by working with other species to create a multi-species commons, we could create solutions to foremost critical issues including resource shortages, pollution, and climate change, together with some of the challenges that face those taking a first principles approach to their research and practice, and why the transition to a truly sustainable society necessitates lateral changes such that policy and practice align with the parameters of the non-human world, both biotic and abiotic. Watch the recording of our conversation here.

On April 28th I joined founder of Grant Associates - the company behind Singapore's Gardens by the Bay - Andrew Grant to discuss how creative ecology is evolving in and beyond cities around the world, and how and why urban ecology has a vital role to play in the creation of environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable cities. Those interested to hear our conversation can find the recording here.

​In the next BIOfutures Instagram livestream session I'll be joined by living architecture pioneer Professor Rachel Armstrong to discuss how living materials, structures, and systems might shape our futures cities and other built spaces, among other things. A drop-in live-streamed session taking place at 16:00 BST on May 12th, no RSVP is needed. Join our session here and find our more about the series here. 

On April 14th I joined Oksana Bondar, Director of Design at Biohm and founder of Urban Fungarium, Rachel Horton-Kitchlew to exchange thoughts on how we might grow the future with fungi. Our discussion covered issues including how working with fungi as a design medium varies from working with inert materials to the particular challenges of biodesign to how fungi may shape the future of our homes, cities, and societies. Those interested to hear our conversation can find the recording here.

​In the next BIOfutures Instagram livestream session I'll be joined by Dr. Carolina Ramirez-Figueroa, senior tutor at the Royal College of Art, designer, and architect specialising in design with living microbial systems. Taking place at 18:00 BST on April 21st, our conversation will explore how we might teach students of design, among other disciplines, the skills, knowledge, and approaches they need to work with living materials and systems. A drop-in session, no RSVP is needed. Join our session here and find our more about the series here. 

On April 7th cofounders of Fullgrown, Alice and Gavin Munro joined me for the latest BIOfutures Instagram IG session to discuss how we might, literally, grow the future of furniture design. Globally-renown pioneers in the biodesign field, Fullgrown grow their iconic pieces in their 'furniture orchard', which involves producing commissions and other pieces through a process of co-creation with nature. Hear our thoughts on the risks, challenges, and opportunities this approach involves, together with our ideas about how it may shape the future of design, culture, and society in the recording of the session here.

Expanding on the same theme, this week's BIOFutures session will explore how we might grow the future, but not with plants, with fungi. Joining me in conversation will be Director of Design at biomanufacturers Biohm and cofounder of Luna Lab design studio, Oksana Bondar, and founder, fungal designer, and researcher at Urban Fungarium, Rachel Horton-Kitchlew. A drop-in session, no RSVP is needed. Join us at 18:00 BST on April 14th here.

Find our more about this rolling live-streamed series here and follow updates here.

How might emerging ideas and innovations in biodesign, biomaterials, biocomputing and more shape the future of product, furniture, and interior design and more, and what are the challenges of working across human and non-human systems? Hear bioMATTERS cofounder Nancy Diniz and I share our thoughts in the recording of the latest BIOfutures Instagram IG session here.

Honoured to be invited to give a guest lecture to the students of University of Greenwich's Vietnam campuses in Hanoi. The 60-minute session, titled 'Finding a Way: The Rise of Living Design, Technology, and Engineering' will discuss how and why our relationship with other species is changing, what this means for business and society, emerging innovations in biodesign, biomaterials, biotechnology, bioengineering, and the wider bio-disciplines, and best-in-breed examples of startups and other initiatives in the field.

Yesterday interdisciplinary artist Audrey Rangel Aguirre joined me in conversation for a BIOfutures Instagram live session to discuss her work and futures at the intersection of art, science, and the future. Those that missed our livestream can view the recording here. 

The next BIOfutures Instagram live session will be the rescheduled discussion with bioMATTERS cofounder Nancy Diniz, which will now steam at 18:00 BST on April 5th. Watch the session live from my Instagram account here.

Those interested to find out how emerging and anticipated developments in fields including biodesign, biomaterials, biofabrication, biocomputing, and biomimetics may shape the future may like to join Bioratorium®'s BIOfutures IG Instagram Live sessions. Featuring a line-up of seminal researchers and practitioners from around the world, several sessions are taking place across March, April, and May of which the first two events are listed below. Streaming through @melissasterry, the sessions are drop-in and require no RSVP to attend. Follow @bioratorium for updates on forthcoming sessions. 

29th March 2022 at 18:00 BST ::
In discussion with Audrey Rangel Aguirre, interdisciplinary artist, hosted by Dr. Melissa Sterry

Centred on biofutures in art, this session will explore how emerging and anticipated developments in biomaterials, biofabrication, biocomputing, and more may shape the future of the visual arts. Audrey Rangel Aguirre is an interdisciplinary artist currently in collaborations with astrobiologist Marta Filipa Simões at State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science & Technology, and with Claudio Avignone, Professor of Systems Microbiology at the University of Surrey. U.K. ​

5th April 2022 at 18:00 BST ::
In discussion with Nancy Diniz, cofounder, bioMATTERS, hosted by Dr. Melissa Sterry

Centred on biofutures in design, this session will explore how emerging and anticipated developments in biomaterials, biofabrication, and biocomputing may shape the future of product, furniture, and interior design. We’ll discuss issues including how we may re-think design practices to be in balance with the evolving ecological world, and how we create more opportunities for inter- disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing. Nancy Diniz is an architect and Co-Founder of bioMATTERS. Parallel to her practice, she has published her work widely and is Course Leader of the Masters in Biodesign at Central Saint Martins, UAL, London. 

A guest professor with Professors Without Borders, which works to enable equality and opportunity in academia and learning worldwide, in celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022, I shared some thoughts on issues impacting women and girls in STEM. Read the Q&A here.

For those that wanted to join our BIOfutures Instagram IG session yesterday, but couldn’t, sharing the link to the footage of our session, here. Hosted by Aterre Society, the session featured Prof. Dr. Claudia Pasquero - professor for Landscape Architecture at the Synthetic Landscape Lab and Head of Institute at IOUD, Maria Kuptsova - research associate and doctoral student at the lab, and I discussing issues of biodesign, biomaterials, biocomputing, biomimetics, and more, you can watch the session here.

The first in a series of BIOfutures talks I’ll be hosting with seminal figures from across the bio-fields, follow @melissasterry on Instagram for updates on the forthcoming sessions.