DIY exchange laboratory: “Adjusting Bacteria” with Vilnius iGEM 2016 team and Kristupas Sabolius

2016-09-20

We are pleased to present the most recent collaboration among Vilnius iGEM team, the philosopher Kristupas Sabolius and Institutio media. As a result of this collaboration, the fourth exchange laboratory “Adjusting Bacteria” will take place on the 30th of September 2016 at project space “Sodų 4” during the event “Night of Explorers”.

Discussions on adaptability of the bacteria under varying environment conditions will take place during this laboratory, also the positive and negative influence of this phenomenon towards adaptability and survival of humans. Participants will be introduced to a brief history of scientific practice working with bacteria and the reasons why it is carried out, to the significance of the bacteria in science, the bacteria itself and its structure, mechanisms of adaptation of bacteria, the use of the microscope. Participants will be able to experiment by colouring parts of bacteria themselves. Together with iGEM team the colouring of Gram+ and Gram- cells, spores, insets will be demonstrated and observed through the microscope.

The laboratory will end with an open discussion and presentation of results, reflecting on co-functioning of laboratory work, knowledge formulation and the imaginary. In addition, an exhibition of albumen structures will be presented at the end of this event, suggesting some possibilities of visualising the information of vital importance and touching upon questions such as genetic engineering, synthetic biology and life programming. This exhibition will be presented in relation to the iGEM research project of this year.

By collaborating in this laboratory Kristupas Sabolius is continuing his cultural research project Hybrid creativity: Contemporary Art and Science”, supported by Lithuanian Council for Culture. In its context the interchanging perspectives between art and science are analysed in such aspects as creativity, origin of fiction and its influence towards reality, interaction between the virtual and the actual. During this laboratory Sabolius will aim to encourage the reflection-discussion on questions and issues common to scientific and artistic practices and how they might contribute each other.

iGEM team is a group of Vilnius University students, taking part in the international synthetic biology competition “iGEM” (International Genetically Engineered Machine http://igem.org/Main_Page). iGEM is a non-profit organization with the goal to change and improve the collaboration between students, scientists, engineers and businessmen from all over the world. Hence the main goal of the team is not only to participate, win and spread the good news about Lithuania, but also to create a synthetic biology community here in our country. This year the iGEM team is determined to help the ones suffering from rare genetic diseases. One of such diseases is phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetically inherited condition, which is defined by the inability of an organism to break down amino acid phenylalanine. The treatment young scientists propose is a probiotic, which would either take in excess phenylalanine or break it down in the gut of the patient, preventing the symptoms of the disease. The final product will be presented in the form of a gastro-resistant pill, which would be accessible and easy to use.

Kristupas Sabolius is a writer and an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Vilnius University. He is researching traditional and alternative forms of creativity and analysing the contradicting function of imagination in various territories of thinking. Sabolius is an author of three scientific monographs “Proteus and the Radical Imaginary” (2016); “The Imaginary” (2013); “Furious Sleep. Imagination and phenomenology” (2012). He is also teaching a course on contemporary art philosophy and imagination, has collaborated as a curator of several exhibitions, is a co-author of film scenario for “The Gambler”.

The aim of this laboratory series is not only to expand the already existing DIY field in contemporary art practices in Lithuania, but also to create a platform for interdisciplinary artists as well as everyone else interested to actively exchange their knowledge by sharing it and teaching each other. Exchange laboratories are designed to allow to test the limits of existence of a human being whether in natural or man-made environment. Different sets of skills are demonstrated during each of the events as well as different pieces of knowledge shared, all important to our existence in the past, present or future.

This event is organized by Institutio Media in collaboration with Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association and is kindly supported by Lithuanian Council For Culture as well as the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. Partner of the event – Vilnius University.

http://2016.igem.org/Team:Vilnius-Lithuania
http://howto-things.com/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1220609564629279/

DIY exchange laboratory#4
“Adjusting Bacteria”
workshop/discussion/exhibition with Vilnius iGEM 2016 team and Kristupas Sabolius

30 September 2016 11 am – 5:30 pm, public presentation 6 pm.
Registration by email o-o@o-o.lt by 29 September 2016
Project Space “Sodų 4”
Sodų Str. 4, Vilnius