08: Building materials with living organisms - with Emma van der Leest

In this final episode of The Growcast, host Emma van der Leest talks more about her work as a biodesigner. Emma has been inspired by microorganisms for a long time and uses them as the basis for her design. From her project 'The Microbial Vending Machine’ that contains collectible organisms that can produce food, medicine, materials and cosmetics to a 100% natural water-repellent coating derived from mushrooms. And not unimportant - she is also the founder of BlueCity Lab. Her goal is to lower the threshold for anyone interested in working with micro-organisms and waste streams in the development of new materials. In The Growcast, biodesigner Emma van der Leest and program maker Barbara Vos, interview eight Rotterdam based pioneering biodesigners – our so called bioneers – about what the future will look like if we design with nature as our guideline. In 8 episodes we’ll take you on a journey through biodesign: if we designed the new economy with living organisms, could it be the change we need for today’s current and future environmental and ecological challenges? The Growcast is made possible by BlueCity and BlueCity Lab with the support of Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and the municipality of Rotterdam.