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Call for Participants: SymbioticA Biotech for Artists Workshop
BiofiliA, Base for Biological Arts, Aalto University, Finland, in collaboration with SymbioticA, The University of Western Australia is organizing an intensive five day workshop for artists and other interested people on 28th January-1st February, 2013. After the workshop the opening of the new laboratory and biological arts programme will be celebrated on Saturday 2nd February.

The workshop will be led by SymbioticA's Director//Aalto visiting Professor Oron Catts and BiofiliA’s scientific collaborator Marika Hellman.

The deadline for applications is Friday 26th November 2012.



This is a hands-on workshop where the tools of modern biology are demonstrated through artistic engagement, which in turn gives voice to the broader philosophical and ethical exploration into the extent of human intervention with other living things. It involves exploration of biological technologies and issues stemming from their use; it serves as a theoretical and practical introduction to the creation of biological art and is aimed at mentoring artists in issues of biotechnology and the life sciences.

The workshop will cover hands-on engagement with some of the fundamental tool of modern biology in order to be able to carry out and critique manipulation of living systems from an informed practical perspective. The practical components include DNA extraction and fingerprinting, genetic engineering, animal tissue culture and basic tissue engineering techniques.




Attendance and Conditions:

Attendance at the workshop will be by selection through open submission or by invitation. The selection will be made by BiofiliA, SymbioticA and an external assessor. Participants must be available and present for the entire week-long workshop, as this is an intensive process of learning and social interaction. The application is open internationally for interested people in all level of their professional practice, no previous experience is needed.

There is no cost to selected participants to participate the workshop; however, travel, accommodation and living expenses will not be covered. Please send a CV, a short statement (no longer than one A4 page) as for why would you like to participate in this workshop and (if available) some examples of relevant work.

Please send an expression of interest in attending as an email by Friday 26th November 2012 to ulla.taipale@aalto.fi.

More information on Future Art Base: BiofiliA – Base for Biological Arts here