By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Laboratory of Activities of Tomorrow (LAA) at Rio de Janeiro’s Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) is offering a series of workshops and lectures that explores innovation and creativity in the use of technology from Friday, May 20th and continuing through Friday, July 8th.
The project entitled Ciência Cidadã (Citizen Science) will feature lectures that explore everything from biohacking and neurohacking to bioelectronics to biodesign, among other topics.
The series began on Friday, May 20th with the workshop, “Genomics: extracting DNA from strawberries and your saliva.” The workshop used the visualization of the DNA of an everyday object, a strawberry, to explore the process of genomics.
The series will continue on Tuesday, May 24th with the workshop, “Bioelectronics: playing around with electronics and batteries made out of vegetables.” Aimed at younger audiences, the workshop will allow participants to change parts of the lab, including the lighting, through microcontrollers that will be will be activated through brainwave sensors.
The first lecture of the series, “Maker culture and cities” will take place on Saturday, May 28th and the workshop, “Bioelectronics: how to make a DIY microscope,” will follow on Friday June 3rd.
Next the workshop “Biodesign: manipulating biologic and ‘intelligent’ fabric” will take place on Friday, June 6th, followed by the second lecture of the series, “Grown your own clothes” on Saturday, June 11th. The workshop “Bioelectronics: controlling objects with your brainwaves” will then take place on Friday, June 17th, followed by the Mini Hack the Brain RIO event, which will take place June 24 through the 26th.
Another workshop geared toward children, ” Biotecnology: growing microorganisms from nasty stuff” will take place on Friday, June 1st and then the last discussion of the series, “Low-cost Labs” will take place on Saturday July 2nd.
Next on Tuesday, July 5th, the workshop “Biorobotics: hacking a carnivorous plant” will take place and finally on Friday, July 8th, another workshop for children, “Biorobotics: hacking a carnivorous plant” will close out the series.
The Museum of Tomorrow first opened in December of last year. Designed Catalan architect Santiago Calatrava, the is museum part of the renovation of the city’s Port Zone.
Currently the museum also offers the Capte-me exhibition and “O Poeta Voador, Santos Dumont” (The Flying Poet, Santos Dumont), an exhibition celebrating the works and entrepreneurial spirit of Brazilian aviation pioneer Santos Dumont.
For more information about the museum, its exhibitions, and the Ciência Cidadã workshop and lecture series, see the Museu do Amanhã website.
What: Ciência Cidadã (Citizen Science) Lecture Series
When: May 20th through July 8th, Tuesdays 3PM to 6PM and Fridays and Saturday 3PM to 6PM.
Where: Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow), Praça Mauá, 1 – Centro
Entrance: Free with applications required. Interest pariticipants can use the online form to apply.