Wednesday, December 11, 20:30, RSVP here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the intersection between organic and inorganic matter, the field of biomineralization studies how organisms form minerals, which often are shaped into complex architectural structures with remarkable material properties.

The Foraminerals symposium provides a stage for scientists, outside of the usual academic platforms, and artists to share thoughts, images and stories inspired by biominerals. The symposium aims to enable connections between artists, architects, designers and scientists, and to offer new perspectives on our environment by merging the lenses of biogeochemistry and art.

Please RSVP here as there are a limited number of seats available, for questions feel free to contact me. Hope to see you at De Ruimte on the 11th of December!

SCHEDULE
20:00 – Bar open, time to meet each other and the minerals

The evening will be moderated by Reef and Sponge scientists Dr. Alice Webb

Performance artist Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti will open the evening with a shamanistic ritual to invite the spirit of the mineral

Part I 20:30-21:30
Dr. Helen King | Utrecht University – ‘Biological architects: building with minerals’
A 3D perspective on the mineral-based structures that biology makes as a consequence of its actions and on purpose, comparing minerals formed by microbial systems and us.

Sema Bekirovic | Artist – ‘Reading by osmosis’
The culture/nature dichotomy isn’t as self evident as has long been held. If culture and nature can no longer be seen as opposites, what’s to keep us from stretching things a little bit further, and proclaim nature to be capable of art, of authorship?

Esmee Geerken | Netherlands institute for Sea research (NIOZ) – ‘Future fossils’
Looking at the evolution of architecture from a unicellular perspective, while taking rather big jumps through geological time.

Dr. Willem Noorduin | Self organising matter group AMOLF – ‘Shaping up matter’
Inspired by natural processes, Willem’s group explores how minerals can be sculpted into microscopic architectures.

Break
During the break, images of Cogwheels by Dr. Inge van Dijk (Alfred Wegner institute for Polar and Sea research) are displayed.

Part II 21:45 – 22:45
Dr. Takashi Toyofuku | Japanse Agency for Marine Science and Technology
– ‘Tiny life’
Takashi will show the beauty of tiny shapes created by the various organisms from his biomineralisation lab.

Dr. Lennart de Nooijer | NIOZ – ‘Blueprints’
Blueprints are representations of the essence of physical things and are, for Lennart, the best symbol of what science is all about.

Prof. dr. Gert-Jan Reichart | Utrecht University – ‘Paleoceanography’
Gert-Jan will elaborate on what biominerals tell us about the climate of the past, and how this can be used to better understand future climate change

Jasper Coppes | Artist and filmmaker – ‘Wisdom of the Ice’
As an alternative to the typical images we see of the melting Greenland ice-sheet, Jasper will talk about his current film project, which emphasises on the perspectives of Greenlandic inhabitants from the biological and mineral world.

After the talks the bar will be open till around midnight to meet up and discuss