bioMakerStudio

A space for biodesigning at Aalto University

The bioMakerStudio is a DIY fabrication space, which acts as an incubator for exploring and engaging creatively with the process of biological growing, making, and designing.

We welcome creatives (researchers, students, makers, community) from any discipline who are working with (or would like to try) bio-themed projects.

Our intention is also to be as low-threshold, accessible, flexible and open as possible. We we encourage users to be explorative, scavenge stuff, make their own tools, and try more exploratory encounters that might be otherwise hard to do in a closed lab environment.

Our space develops according to demand, and grows together with the projects and our community.

OUR APPROACH

At the bioMakerStudio, we run on a makerspace philosophy, which includes:

Learning-by-making

You learn through hands-on experiments, and by actively making and growing something. DIY (Do-it-yourself) and DIWO (Do-it-with-others) with communities.

Finding creative workarounds

This is not a scientific lab – meaning that for certain processes, you will have to find creative workarounds. Can you find replacements for tools in everyday objects, for example?

Combine fabrication techniques and fields

How can you combine different fabrication and making techniques? Biofabrication, digital fabrication, crafts, textiles… How can you combine knowledge from different disciplines?

Sharing and lowering barriers to knowledge

With the open-access mindset, you’ll share your processes and results with others, and also learn from others. How can you share your knowledge in ways that can be accessed by more people?

SPACES & EQUIPMENT

bioMakerStudio

Our current inventory includes:
• Workbenches
• DIY incubators
• DIY bioreactor (for spirulina)
• Transparent growtent
• Darkroom growtent
• Microscope
• Fridge + freezer
• Kettle
• Shelves
• UV light
• Heating pads
• Heating plates
• Humidity gauge
• Dehydrator
• Drying fan
• Scales
• Kitchen utensils (stick blender, containers, pots, etc.)
• Lab consumables (petri dishes, test tubes, cotton cloths, pH paper, etc.)
• Kitchen consumables (baking sheets, aluminium foils, paper plates, etc.)
• Ingredients for growth mediums
• Large TV screen with HDMI
• Storage space
• First aid kit

Garden

8m² community garden plot, currently growing:
• Woad (Isatis tinctoria)
• Japanese Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria)
• Dyer’s chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria)
• Dyer’s greenweed (Genista tinctoria)
• Weld (Ruseda luteola)
• Dyer’s coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)

We also have access to these facilities in the same building:

Dyeing Studio

A splash-proof kitchen-like space for wetwork with:
> Sinks
> Hobs
> Drying cabinet
> Kitchen utensils
For more, visit: https://studios.aalto.fi/product/dyeing-and-surface-manipulation/

FabLab

Digital fabrication laboratory for digital fabrication, with:
> Laser cutter
> CNC machine
> 3D printers
> Electronic workstations
> Programming software
For more info, visit: https://studios.aalto.fi/fablab/

WHAT CAN I WORK WITH?

We allow work with BSL0 (Biosafety Level 0) organisms, meaning that they are entry-level and food-safe in the bioMakerStudio. Currently, we are working with bacterial cellulose (SCOBY), cyanobacteria (spirulina), slime mould (physarum), mycelium (oyster and reishi), and plants (wild and grown).

Working with organisms that are highly perceptible to contamination would be very challenging in our space, as we cannot create completely aseptic conditions.

The bioMakerStudio is constantly changing. For most recent photos check out our Instagram account: @biomakerstudio

biomakerstudio

𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 🌿
> bioMakerStudio Workshop Series no.1 <

📅 November 8th, 2024
⏱️ 4pm – 6pm
📍bioMakerStudio, Otakaari 7, 02150

Learn how to print shapes and colours of leaves, flowers and fungi on fabric to create a small piece of art 🍁
Our instructor this week is Kirsi Mantua-Kommonen @mantua_slow_living

The events are completely FREE and no prior experience is needed!

𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 with link in bio 🍄
Places are limited!

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The bioMakerStudio Workshop and Talks Series is a non-profit community engagement initiative funded by the @sustainability_action_booster grant.

Every week, we invite pioneering bio-creatives to share their techniques to you through hands-on workshops.

ℹFor more information, visit: https://studios.aalto.fi/biomakerstudio-ws2024/

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#workshop #sustainability #sustainabilityworkshop #biomakerstudio #community #biodesign #craft #ecoprinting #ecoprintingfabric

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‼️Name change alert‼️
From "A little GrowLab" to "bioMakerStudio"

Here`s our story 📖

We started on a small table, in the corner of the Fablab. Since then, we`ve been moving into available spaces, occupying empty corners, and slowly growing over time. At the same time, our community has also grown together.

Being a bottom-up initiative, there have been a lot of struggles, and we`re very grateful for all the warm support and enthusiasm we`ve had!

After almost a year, we`re no longer just a corner – perhaps we can graduate from being a "little" lab, to something more?

………..

WELCOME to the bioMakerStudio ✨ We have a name change! @biomakerstudio

Bio = biodesign, working together with living organisms and more than human systems.

Maker = a makerspace where we continue to grow as a community, to share, and provide low-threshold infrastructure to delve into biodesign.

Studio = a space for creatives to carry out longer-term work with bio-themed projects. Even messy ones 😊

………

We hope to continue growing the space and the community!

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#biodesign #biolab #biomakerstudio

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Quick natural dye🍃 experiments with 1. Red cabbage waste, 2. Red onion skins 3. Dyer`s chamomile 🌼

Only after 30 min of steeping into the dye, the fabric retained some colour!

We`re working on some more techniques, so more to come!
With @chrissxie666

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#biodesign #naturalcolour #naturaldyes #cocoon #cocoon.bio #sustainabledesign #diycolour

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Update on our space! Check out our website for the full inventory of equipment ✨

Link in bio ⤴️ (www.studios.aalto.fi/growlab/)

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#biolab #biodesign #biofabrication #growlab #aaltogrowlab #sustainability #sustainabledesign

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This fleshy material is made of bacteria and yeast, then dyed with beetroot ♥️
Experiments for costume design by @kaisa_jo at the GrowLab!
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#biodesign #biomaterialdesign #biomaterial #costumedesign #sustainability #sustainabledesign #biolab #growlab #aaltogrowlab

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Throwback to our Bio-lantern Workshop last month in collaboration with @cuttlexyz and @aaltofablab 💡
Thank you to those who participated!

Check out the article written by @forresto to learn more about the process. Link in bio ⤴️

We are planning to open up this workshop again this year, so make sure to stay tuned!

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#workshop #sustainability #fablab #biodesign #lantern #diy #biofabrication #scoby #biolab #growlab #biomaterial

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We have been working with natural dyes, living organisms, and agar to explore new costume design possibilities ✨
What`s next?
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#biomaterialdesign #biodesign #biomaterial #costumedesign #naturalcolour #naturaldyes #biolab #growlab #aaltogrowlab

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Wild mushroom foraging in Finland 🍄 Very exciting to see what kinds of colours appear from them!
@h_rehorcikova
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#mushroom #localmushroom #mushroomdye #mushroomcolor #naturaldyes #biodesign #biolab #growlab #aaltogrowlab #finland

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Load More Follow on Instagram

CONTACT

If you are interested in using the bioMakerStudio or have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We are always looking to expand our inventory of equipment and materials through recycled or second-hand goods. If you have any lab / makerspace equipment that you would like to donate, please let us know!

bioMakerStudio

Learning-by-making

Finding creative workarounds

Combine fabrication techniques and fields

Sharing and lowering barriers to knowledge

biomakerstudio

Interested in the bioMakerStudio? Contact

Ena Naito