Approach

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Focused on the ideology of making science accessible to the non-scientific community, we experimented with the Do-It-Yourself approach of working.

We began with familiarizing ourselves with the nature of DIYBio and dipped our hands in beginner level scientific procedures that introduced us to the building blocks of the seemingly hurdle -filled stream that we were trying to pursue. From building our own gel electrophoresis chamber in our self constructed backyard bio lab in an Art and Design school campus to conducting gel electrophoresis in a professional lab, we played with the boundaries of the DIY style of working. A three time failure at an attempt to experiment with cell lysis followed and so did a deep insight into the skills of being a lab practitioner. We delved into process of science.

Will an open source work ethic contribute to breaking the barriers of science that cordons off amateur, non scientific bio enthusiasts in art institutes, in hobby clubs, in public schools or on the street? This took us to places like Drishya and the National Institute of Design, the former, a school for the underprivileged in Bangalore and the latter, India’s first design research institute.

Armed with scientific knowledge that we had gathered from peering over books, research papers, friends and guides undertaking advanced studies in biology and the internet, we set out to share what we had learnt through day long workshops with people as varied as seven year old kids, art professors, performance artists to students of advanced studies in Industrial design.

We found success in the fact when people completely disconnected from the field related to the project and valued the importance of what we were trying to do.