Making Biomaterials for

Sustainable Tangible Interfaces

In-Person Studio

Sunday, 11 February 2024

9:00-17:00

@MTU, Cork, Ireland

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

As the world becomes more conscious of the impact of human activities on the environment, sustainable materials that readily decompose or biodegrade have become an increasingly important area of research. Materials play a significant role in shaping the world around us, from the products we use to the buildings we inhabit. However, traditional materials and the human-centered processes we use to produce them often negatively impact the environment. In light of the environmental impact caused by such materials, HCI researchers have been motivated to develop and implement biomaterials — materials that are both bio-based (i.e., come from a renewable, biological source) and biodegradable (i.e., break down into biomass, carbon dioxide, and water without leaving behind any toxic residues in the environment).

In this in-person studio, we will carry out a hands-on exploration of various biomaterials such as bioplastics made from algae, bioclays made from food waste, and biofoams made from gelatin. We will teach participants how to identify types of biomaterials that are applicable to their own research and how to make them. Through group activities, we will demonstrate how to implement biomaterials in the design of sustainable tangible interfaces and discuss topics sensitized by biological media such as more-than-human temporalities, bio-ethics, care, and unmaking.

Our ultimate goal is to facilitate a space where HCI researchers and designers can collaborate, create, and discuss the opportunities and challenges of working with sustainable biomaterials.

APPLICATIONS DUE BY JANUARY 12

SUBMIT APPLICATION

STUDIO AGENDA

09:00 - 09:15 Welcoming notes

09:15 - 09:30 Participant introduction and icebreakers

09:30 - 10:15 Presentation on biomaterials from organizers: about sustainable design principles in HCI and

interaction design. We will bring up questions such as "What makes a material sustainable?" and

"What making practices support the design of sustainable tangible interfaces?". We will then

introduce several biomaterials presently used in HCI such as bioplastics and mycelium.

10:15 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 11:00 Experiencing biomaterial samples: we will ask the participants to engage directly with various

biomaterial samples that we will bring to get a feel for how each one behaves. We will provide

prompts to encourage participants to experience each sample in an embodied way.

11:00 - 12:00 Mapping materials to biomaterials: we will do an activity where participants will list out the

materials that they use most often in their research/design practice. Participants will then map

these materials to potential biomaterial alternatives that are both existing and speculative.

12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

13:00 - 14:30 Making biomaterial samples: participants will identify one or two biomaterial alternatives that

apply to their research. We will then assist participants in identifying ingredients, recipes, and

methods to create said biomaterial. This activity will be very hands-on and is meant to give

participants some hands-on experience with biomaterials in a low-stakes and exploratory

manner. Participants can also optionally work in teams to collaboratively complete this task.

14:30 - 14:45 Clean up

14:45 - 15:00 Break

15:00 - 15:45 Participant presentations: participants will present their material maps and the biomaterial they

chose to experiment with making. These presentations will further provide participants the

opportunity to tie biomaterials directly to their research interests, ideate on potential

applications, and get feedback from others.

15:45 - 16:45 Critically discussing biomaterials in HCI: to close the studio, we will facilitate an open discussion

regarding the participants' experiences identifying and making biomaterials. Example questions

that will be posed: "Will you use biomaterials in your research going forward? What are some of

the limitations/challenges you expect to face when working with biomaterials? How might

biomaterials raise ethical questions in material usage? How do we navigate care when working

with biomaterials? How might the biological nature of biomaterials shift temporalities in

sourcing, making, using, and disposing? How do biomaterials address unmaking practices?"

16:45 - 17:00 Closing notes

STUDIO ORGANIZERS

Fiona Bell (she/hers) is a postdoctoral researcher in Computer Science at the University of New Mexico, working at the intersection of HCI, biodesign, and material science. Her research is focused on the development of novel biomaterials that foster more reciprocal and caring interactions between humans, nonhumans, technology, and the environment.

Shanel Wu (they/them) is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Information Technology at Carleton University, researching e-textiles and wearable technologies through craft (particularly textiles). Their work uses craft as a method for making, as well as unmaking, technologies for more sustainable, accessible, and just futures.

Nadia Campo Woytuk (she/they) is a PhD student in Interaction Design at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Nadia’s work focuses on critical and intersectional feminist design of technologies for menstrual health and intimate care. Her current work explores touch and sense-making of the intimate body and the social and environmental ecologies it entangles.

Eldy Lazaro Vasquez (she/hers) is a PhD student in the Unstable Design Lab and Living Matter Lab at the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her research areas include wearable technology, biodesign, and sustainability. She is currently researching and developing conductive biofibers for applications in electronic textiles.

Mirela Alistar (she/hers) is a bioartist, Assistant Professor in Soft Materials at ATLAS Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, and the director of the Living Matter Lab. Intersecting microbiology and HCI, her work focuses on the development of tangible living-media interfaces and biochip-based systems for personalized healthcare.

Leah Buechley (she/hers) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of New Mexico and the director of the Hand and Machine research group. Her work explores the intersection of computer science, art, design, and education. Her goal is to engage broad and diverse audiences in understanding, designing, and building technology for themselves.

Questions? Contact: fbell1@unm.edu