Workshop｜Meet microscopic creatures with a bio-artist!

Dive into the microscopic world with a bio artist Georg Tremmel!

There are many tiny, invisible creatures all around us. For example, there are 100 trillion microorganisms (more than our cells!) living in our bodies. This time, bio artist Georg Tremmel will lead us in a workshop where we can get in touch with invisible creatures and cells. The first step will be to assemble a paper microscope called a “Foldscope” and observe various cells. The second step will be a hands-on experience with slime mold, which is said to be one of the most mysterious of all living things.

The lecturer, Georg Tremmel, is a bio artist who has been working for many years on the theme of “What is life?”. He is also the founder and director of BioClub, a citizen science lab located in Shibuya, Tokyo. There, he has created a place where citizens can experiment and think for themselves, asking a wide range of questions from the familiar to major events happening in society, while working to open biotechnology to the public.

This event will be held as a spin-off project of SPCS, a Natural Science x Creation community based at FabCafe Kyoto.

Related project: SPCS｜SPECS Season1 “WHAT IS LIFE? with Geoag Tremmel

Program 1: Assemble the Foldscope!

The Foldscope is a paper microscope developed by Manu Prakash, Associate Professor of Biotechnology at Stanford University, and his lab. Originally developed as a solution for health care in developing countries, it is now attracting attention as a tool to expand the horizons of biology. In the workshop, we will assemble this Foldscope together and take a look at various microscopic worlds! One Foldscope will be given to each participant, so please take it home and observe various things. We will also prepare samples of various cells from plants, insects, and animals. Step into the beautiful world of cells!

Program 2: Let’s Grow Slime Mold

Do you know what slime mold is? The slime mold (a deformable fungus) is said to be intelligent and has many fans. It moves in an amoeboid shape looking for food in the shortest distance. In the workshop, let’s take advantage of this property and place food in a petri dish containing culture medium to predict and observe what patterns will appear.

Recommended for

• Parents searching for an opportunity to experience natural science with their children in their daily lives.
• Those interested in DIY biotechnology (biotechnological experiments using everyday items).
• (It’s a little early for me to say this, but) Parents and children searching next year’s summer project…

Notification

Please be sure to agree to the following before participating.

• Children under elementary school age are welcome to participate with their parents or guardians, but it may be too difficult for small children to assemble the microscope by themselves. We will ask parents/guardians to kindly support them!
• If you would like more than one person to accompany the participant, please let us know in the additional Information Section when you register. If there are too many participants, we may ask you to bring only one person in a short notice.
• In order to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infection, we ask that you do the following when attending the event. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
  • Please wear a mask.
  • Please wash your hands in the museum washrooms when visiting the museum.
  • Please refrain from participating in the event if your local government has issued a voluntary restraint order regarding outings and transportation.
  • Please refrain from participating if you are not feeling well.
  • The event may be canceled if the government, Kyoto Prefecture, or Kyoto City request cancellation of the event.

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