Wanted: Artist in Residence

The University of Groningen is looking for an artist in residence for a project that it is working on with two Max Planck institutes. The artist will develop an art project on synthetic biology (a field of biology on the interface between molecular biology, cell biology and engineering) that will foster dialogue about this field.

The Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) has entered into a special partnership with two Max Planck institutes, the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPIKG) and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPIMP), based in Potsdam-Golm in Germany. Together they are looking for an artist who can create an art project on synthetic biology.

The artist will visit one of the institutes for a period of two weeks and talk to researchers, follow seminars and visit the labs, thus learning more about the field and gaining inspiration for the project. The aim here is to foster dialogue between practitioners from different disciplines. The result will not only be knowledge exchange between the arts and the sciences, but also a better understanding and appreciation of synthetic biology.

Resistance

Synthetic biology is a relatively new and obscure field of biology that has encountered some resistance. It can be found on the interface between molecular biology, cell biology and engineering. Its aim is to discover exactly how cells work and to further our understanding of biological processes. This knowledge will inspire new developments in biotechnology in the future.

The results of the project will be revealed next summer at science festivals in Golm and Groningen. Members of the public will be able to take part in round-table discussions, deepen their knowledge in seminars and play with interactive exhibits.