🌱 The second instalment of the AMC Creative Synergy Seminar Series, titled “The Hybrid Turn: Designing with Living Matter and Machines”, was successfully convened on Jan 7, 2026, delivered by Prof. Harpreet SAREEN, Associate Professor of Interaction and Media Design and Director of Synthetic Ecosystems Lab at Parsons School of Design, The New School (New York).
🤖 Prof. Sareen’s talk explored the convergence of biological intelligence and artificial intelligence through hybrid systems that integrate living organisms with computational technologies. He showcased groundbreaking projects such as plant-robot hybrids that navigate using plant electrical signals, nanosensors embedded in plant tissue to reveal environmental data, and techniques for actuating plant growth through external stimuli. These innovations challenge conventional notions of sensing and interaction, positioning plants as active participants in technological systems rather than passive biomaterials. 🌿 By bridging plant physiology with digital systems, Sareen demonstrated how design can leverage ecological intelligence to create richer, more sustainable technological futures.
💡 The seminar sparked thought-provoking conversations on post-anthropocentric design, the integration of biological systems into computational frameworks, and the transformative potential of merging living matter with machines. Attendees left inspired to rethink the boundaries of design, technology, and ecology. 🌍
