Biomaterials like mycelium and kombucha leather are oftentimes not water resistant and therefore need a coating. Biopolymers like beeswax or natural rubbers provide solutions, yet also fungi can give an interesting coating for biomaterials. How can designers apply these innovations, and how do you choose or develop a coating? Listen back to the stories of: Stephanie Rensink (Microbiologist and researcher at Xylotrade BV) & Ward Groutars (Designer and researcher from TU Delft, the Caradt institute and Hoekmine b.v.)

By using enzymes, many polluting catalytic processes can be replaced. How can cell technology be used to make new materials? Can we use enzymes as one of the building blocks of the future? In this meetup we talked about how we can use these beauties and how to avoid high costs researching them. Listen back to the stories of: Amanda Cattermole: head of the Cattermole Consulting & Maria Cuellar-Soares: Science and Technology Officer at Planet B.io. 

The city as a living organism is a metaphor that is far from the truth in our cities. Biodiversity is a grant topic, yet how can we bring nature back when there is so little soil left for nature to thrive? What do bioneers encounter when contributing to the living metabolism of our cities? We will investigate creative and structural ways to stimulate nature in the concrete jungles that are our cities in this How To Biodesign meetup. Listen back to the stories of: Dr Nadina Galle: An ecological engineer by training, And Ir. Pierre Oskam: Pierre is a landscape architect, researcher and teacher.

Fungi are the future, yet there are different cultivation methods. It matters where you get your fungus from, what kind of bioreactor you use, and if you work with a wild culture or a known safe version. How do you know whether it is dangerous or not? What knowledge and equipment are required to carry out first tests? Let’s talk about fermenting fungi with: Iris Houthoff from Mylium B.V., And Maurizio Montalti from Mogu and Officina Corpuscoli.

How can we grow wood to build our wooden skyscrapers that have grown in a nature-enhancing way without damaging communities or ecosystems? Lets find out with: Architect Mo Smit, one of the initiators of Bouwtuin: a place where #flax, #hemp #wood and other construction materials are grown for local use & Mark Compeer - developer at Nice developers B.V. and one of the two initiators of Rotterdam based wooden skyscraper Sawa, which is planned to rise this year.