Kino and Cambridge University present

WHAT IS THE ART OF BIOSECURITY?

Beyond the conventional.

Biosecurity is essential for safeguarding biological materials and technologies, but traditional approaches often lack the excitement and engagement needed for widespread adoption. This question seeks to explore innovative strategies that go beyond conventional methods, incorporating interdisciplinary collaboration, creative activism, and groundbreaking design to spark biosecurity socialization.

Re-imagining biosecurity.

By combining expertise from diverse fields such as art, science, technology, and sociology, we can reimagine biosecurity practices in a way that captivates and inspires. By harnessing the power of aesthetics, sensory experiences, and thought-provoking interventions, we can bridge the gap between scientific rigor and public engagement, creating a vibrant biosecurity culture that resonates with individuals and communities.

The power of “artivism”.

This question, therefore, requires research from a wide range of fields across science, the arts and social science to reveal what is missing in our discourse, and start to provide examples of how this can be an important aspect of biotechnology design practice by investigating the transformative power of biosecurity “artivism” in shaping public perception and behavior.

Call for contributions.

We have collaborated with Cambridge University Press for this call for papers (e.g., reviews, opinions, perspectives, original research, visual results, methodology) that invites researchers, biohackers, artists, designers and everyone in between, to explore the following areas:

Exploring how cutting-edge design, biomimicry, and human-centered approaches can revolutionize the development of biosecurity solutions, products, and infrastructure.
Exploring design strategies, products, and environments that deter unauthorized access, misuse, or theft of biological materials and technologies as these advance and converge. Taking into account human factors, user-centered design, and social dynamics, crime science principles (see Cockbain and Laycock, 2017) can be applied to understand and prevent biosecurity risks, including threat assessment, situational prevention, and offender profiling.
Leveraging artistic approaches in emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and biometric systems to enhance the traceability, authentication, and secure handling of biological materials.

Presenting case studies, practical experiences, and best practices that demonstrate successful integration of crime science, design against crime, biosecurity artivism, and/or biohacking in socializing biosecurity.
Considering the ecological impact of biosecurity practices, evaluating sustainable approaches, and promoting the integration of biosecurity with conservation efforts and ecosystem resilience.
Investigating the impact of cultural values, societal norms, and ethical considerations on the adoption and effectiveness of biosecurity measures, highlighting the need for context-specific approaches.
Exploring the biohacking community and its potential contributions to biosecurity, emphasizing responsible practices, ethical considerations, and community engagement.

Investigating how entrepreneurial ventures, industry collaborations, and start-up ecosystems can drive biosecurity innovation, commercialization, and market adoption.
Examining the role of art and creative practices in raising awareness, engaging the public, and shaping attitudes towards biosecurity risks and responsible behavior.
Examining the power of narrative, storytelling, and immersive experiences to educate and engage the public, fostering a sense of personal connection and responsibility towards biosecurity.
Exploring participatory approaches, citizen science initiatives, and grassroots movements that empower individuals and communities to actively contribute to biosecurity practices and decision-making.

This interdisciplinary exploration of a biosecurity socialization aims to inspire researchers, practitioners, artists, policymakers, and citizens to join forces in reshaping the future of biosecurity through unconventional and captivating means.

We welcome a broad range of discussion pieces

Including submission of design portfolios, short polemics, position pieces, or provocations. As the question content develops we expect this engagement to comment on the existing archive of published material.