What happens when biology becomes technology?

Now that we can design life, how do we design it well? Synthetic Aesthetics was an NSF-funded project that brought together synthetic biologists and artists to explore the potential implications of new biotechnologies. The book is a deep look at the technology of synthetic biology, its implications and a chronicle of the partnerships between art and science forged by the projects, from probiotic drinking cups, to an exploration of deep time, to human cheese.

This anthropological study of synthetic biology and the people who make it starts with a compelling first line: "Life is not what it used to be." Analyzing and synthesizing the many meanings of "synthetic," the ways synthetic biologists make sense of life, and the economics and politics of biotechnology, this book offers unique insights into the emerging world of synthetic biology.

In this brilliant book, Robin Wall Kimmerer weaves together her experiences as a scientist and as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, showing us what we can learn from plants and animals through vivid stories about living with nature.

Data doesn’t speak for itself — scientists do, and scientists are people who are shaped by the social world we inhabit. This book explores how our ideas about gender influence the ways we think about nature and the practice of science.

Sometimes the rift between science and "the public" can seem impossibly huge. Science and technology are deeply interconnected with social and political issues, but they are often seen and treated as entirely separate. Philosopher Isabelle Stengers argues that scientists must "slow down" and stop thinking of ourselves as separate from society, to deeply consider the social questions, concerns and implications and create a new kind of science.

"Resurrecting the Sublime," is a collaborative work bringing together cutting-edge scientific research and immersive installations.

Learn more about the work of iGEM and their dedication to advancing synthetic biology, education and competition with an open community and collaboration.