Robotic Labs & Automating Art: Lab Automation Workshop

Robotic Labs & Automating Art: Lab Automation Workshop

In this lab, you'll program the Opentrons OT-2 pipetting robot to create stunning, glowing designs by depositing genetically engineered E. coli onto black agar plates. These bacteria express fluorescent proteins in vibrant colors, forming "bio-art" that comes to life under UV light. It’s your chance to turn cutting-edge biotech, with a peek into automation included, into a canvas for creativity, combining science, automation, and art into a single exciting project!

Concepts you'll learn:

This week, you will be working with the Opentrons OT-2, a liquid handling robot that’s used in various life-science laboratories on a variety of applications, and learn how to incorporate automation into synthetic biology research. This lab will require you to code a script to run on the Opentrons.You will also learn how to create agar plates, a basic tool in molecular and synthetic biology research.

1. Learn how to design & simulate your protocols.
2. Discover how to prep Fluorescent Bacteria & Black Agar Script
3. Run your protocol

Meet your Instructor

Digby Usher is Director and Co-Founder of Lifefabs Institute: Biofabrication Lab & Research Centre in London, UK. As the UK’s first open-access materials makerspace and scientific wet-lab, it supports graduate architectural researchers, biodesigners and scientists to bring with research grade-equipment and project support. As Director, he manages the interdisciplinary research groups, themes and research projects that work invent the future of Biodesign, architecture, materials science and healthcare.His own design profession is oriented towards material design and biology focuses between low-cost prosthetics from milk and engineering materials, which led him to be a course co-lead for MIT Media Lab’s Synthetic Biology course for Europe.As Design Lecturer at University of the Arts London, he teaches across Interaction Design, MA Service Design, MA Innovation Management delivering units in robotics, prototyping, material development and programmable materials. His past work in materials policy at DEFRA, and facilitating pavilion and market building with Camden Council evidences his work in service design & public innovation.

Accessibility Statement:

Lifefabs Institute is committed to ensuring that our events and workshops are as accessible as possible and meet the ever-changing needs of our community. As we navigate the opportunities and challenges of our workshops, we are constantly learning and adjusting our workflows to prioritise accessibility.

We’d love to hear any feedback our community might have.

Please contact us at info@lifefabs.bio if you have any specific accessibility requirements or questions.

Seating:

Seating is usually unreserved for our events. If you and your group require seating reservations, please do let us know by emailing us at info@lifefabs.bio and we'd be more than happy to help.

Carers can receive a free ticket to an event by emailing info@lifefabs.bio

Support to Attend Our Events & WorkshopsLifefabs Institute may be able to offer financial assistance to enable adults or children to participate in our events and activities if this would otherwise be financially difficult.Please contact our team: info@lifefabs.bio and we will aim to agree a reduction or bursary or wavier your fee free of charge.

About Lifefabs Institute: Community Biofab Lab & Research Space

Lifefabs is an open-access biofabrication space that provides graduates, creatives, schools, communities and scientists access to scientific learning and exchange knowledge around biofabrication.

We want to break down barriers to research and STEAM learning, offering a space to learn, experiment and contribute to our understanding of biomaterials and bioengineering. A space for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, Lifefabs encourages non-scientists, local communities to feel welcome and be curious about Biodesign, promoting accessibility though hands-on community lab.