A new university competition exploring the future of biotechnology premieres at the leading design conference.
The Biodesign Challenge, a university competition that asks university students to envision new ways to harness living systems and biotechnology, premiered at the Biofabricate conference at Microsoft headquarters in New York City.
Engaging universities across the United States, the Biodesign Challenge pairs students with designers and practicing scientists to envision bold, feasible projects that use biotechnology to address pressing issues in society. Theme areas include architecture, communications, energy, food, materials, medicine, transportation, and water.
At least six universities are participating this academic year, including University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), New York University (NYU), the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), School of Visual Arts (SVA), and the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc).
In June 2016, the winning teams will be invited to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to showcase their designs in front of leaders from academia, industry, and design at the Biodesign Summit.
"Design plays an integral role in the development of any technology. As the science finds its way into our products, our future designers need a full understanding of the implications, so that in the future when they are asked to design with biology, they do so creatively, thoughtfully, and ethically," says Daniel Grushkin, program director of the Biodesign Challenge. "We firmly believe that university students, working under the guidance of scientists and designers, will show us the way forward with their visions."
www.biodesignchallenge.org