Sandpit: Synthetic aesthetics: connecting synthetic biology and creative design

合成生物学是一种新的思维方式，关于如何利用生物有机体为人类做有用的事情。如果我们想到谷类作物，有很长的历史，人们不仅使用自然提供的东西，而且通过选择有用的特性来增强它，比如更多更大的种子。我们的知识已经发展到这样一个地步，我们现在能够真正考虑如何设计生物学，使其能够做我们需要的事情。例如，我们可能想让细菌生产柴油或酵母生产药物。在其他工程领域，有一个团队一起工作的项目是很正常的。想想看，如果我们只把建筑设计留给土木工程师而不是建筑师，世界会是什么样子。虽然工程是一个创造性的过程，但它也是一个由功能而不是外观或外观驱动的过程。请美学专家或事物的外观和感觉来听取他们的意见通常非常有用。在这个新的工程领域，我们意识到我们有责任努力实现合成生物学的所有好处，而没有任何副作用;我们需要确保交付，安全和保障，但也要美观。该项目将把从事合成生物学的科学家和工程师与从事创意产业的艺术家和设计师聚集在一起。它的目的是在这些不同的人之间建立长期的关系，这将有助于改善他们的工作。在第一阶段，我们将开发案例研究，总结合成生物学的工作，分发给创造性的专业人士。我们还将确定哪些团体和个人将受益于该项目的一部分。在现阶段，我们会聘请顾问，协助我们与创意界和设计界建立联系。在第二阶段，我们将安排12个为期两周的交流活动，让两个社区的成员在彼此的机构中度过时光。博士后研究员将促进和分析这些交流。在第三阶段，我们将组织两个启动研讨会：一个在合成生物学会议上，另一个在设计会议上。我们还将开发网络资源和其他传播机制，以确保研究成果能够广泛传播。我们希望在最后阶段看到合成生物学美学的增长和兴趣激增，这将影响教学，研究和产品开发。这可能会带来新的工程形式和新的艺术流派，以及公众参与合成生物学的新方式。

Synthetic Biology is a new way of thinking about how to harness biological organisms to do useful things for mankind. If we think of cereal crops, there is a long history of people not just using what nature has provided but enhancing it by selecting for useful properties, like more and bigger seeds. Our knowledge has developed to the point where we are now able to really consider how we can engineer biology to be able to do exactly what we need. For example, we may want to make bacteria produce diesel or yeast produce medicines.In other engineering fields it is quite normal to have a team of people working together towards a project. Think of how the world would look if we left building design only to the civil engineers but not the architects. Whilst engineering is a creative process it is also one which is driven by function and not looks, or appearances. It is often very useful to bring in experts in aesthetics, or how things look and feel, for their opinions. In this new engineering field we are aware of our responsibility to work towards Synthetic Biology being able to deliver all its benefits without any side effects; we need to ensure delivery, safety and security, but also beauty. This project will bring together scientists and engineers working in synthetic biology with artists and designers working in the creative industries. It aims to develop long-lasting relationships between this diverse set of people, which will help to improve their work.In the first stage we will develop case studies summarising work in synthetic biology to distribute to the creative professionals. We will also identify groups and individuals who would benefit from being part of the project. We will bring in a consultant at this stage to help us form links with the creative and design communities. In stage two, we will arrange twelve two-week long exchanges where members of both communities spend time in each others' institutions. The post-doctoral fellow will facilitate and analyse these exchanges. In the third stage, we will organise two launch workshops: one at a synthetic biology conference and one at a design conference. We will also develop web resources and other dissemination mechanisms, to ensure that the results of the research reach a broad audience.We hope to see a surge of growth and interest in the aesthetics of synthetic biology in the final phase, which will influence teaching, research and product development. This could lead to new forms of engineering and new schools of art, as well as new ways for the public to engage with synthetic biology.