Fundamentals of Biodesign

This is a theme course of IPD theme 3: Materialising Futures.

The Fundamentals of Biodesign course is an advanced introduction to biodesign with an emphasis on (micro)biology, biotechnology, and biodesign methods. It is focused on the fundamentals of living organisms (such as fungi, algae, and bacteria) and bioprocesses, and equips students with basic bio lab technical and research skills to grow, maintain, and observe living organisms, and utilise them for design projects. The course will be organised in iterations between practical lab experiments, theoretical/ inspirational lectures, and workshops. Students will follow an initial Lab Training, where they will get acquainted with Lab Safety Protocols, good laboratory practices and the basics of microbiological techniques. The content of the course will be conveyed through lectures and workshops starting with (1) a general introduction to Biodesign, and (2) the basics of Microbiology, where students will get acquainted with the biodesign field and the biological principles of distinct organisms; (3) a general introduction to biotechnology and their tools and applications in biodesign; (4) biodesign specific lectures and workshops, exploring the biodesign potential of specific organisms commonly used in biodesign. At last, we will address (5) bioethics and biodesign to provide the designers with the necessary ethical knowledge to research and design with living organisms.