Material Incubator
Over the last decade, we have seen increasing evidence for art and design input positively contributing to the development of new materials in collaborative projects. However, the collaboration between creative industries and science communities remains challenging. Professionals from both research and practice list diverse reasons behind this situation, including, lack of a common language and methodologies to support collaborative projects, or lack of common lab space to host researchers from diverse backgrounds as equal partners in the collaborative material development. Artists and designers are often ‘visitors’ in the ‘science’ labs, where scientists have still the utmost ‘power’ on the steps to take for materials development. In such projects where ‘science’ pushes, the utmost attention goes to the over-specification of materials to improve ‘performance,’ mostly concerning ‘durability,’ while “materials offer more” when creatives are allowed to explore their potentials freely.
Over the last years, the number of bio-labs which invites artist and designers for residencies or collaborative projects have increased noticeably. Next to that, we observe an increasing number of open wet-lab spaces which provide machinery and know-how for bio-artists and designers. In January 2020 we opened the doors of our own biodesign research lab, namely Material Incubator, which capitalizes on the role of artistic practice in unlocking the unique potentials of living organisms for everyday materials and communicating them to a broader public, to accelerate their widespread understanding and further development.
InnoCell bioreactor
Located in the massive building of St. Joost School of Art & Design in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in the Netherlands, and positioned between various material workshops and maker spaces, the [MI] lab offers an inspirational environment for researchers and a specious setting for prototyping of large-scale research artefacts.
The Lab consists of two separate working spaces, which we name as the ‘small’ and the ‘large’ room.
In the small room, we conduct experiments which are highly sensitive to ‘contamination’. This room is only used by our expert researchers and graduation students who are under guidance of one of our researchers. The use of the small room is led by the researchers from our lab partner MNEXT Centre of Expertise (Avans University). The large room has a relatively bigger space to host 3-4 researchers simultaneously and to give workshops to relatively bigger groups.
Simbiosi project
Apart from these, our lab is equipped with basic lab equipment’s and domestic appliances to tinker with materials.
Join us in this journey of discovery, creation, and collaboration. Unleash your potential, and let’s redefine the future together. For more information: contact the Caradt Office (caradt@avans.nl).
Two Laminar Flow Cabinets
The Biovanguard is a Laminar Flow Cabinet which is an enclosed bench designed to prevent contamination to biological samples, or any particle sensitive materials Biological Safety Cabinet.
It gives the user the possibility to work safely and sterile with bioagentia without complete physical barrier between person and experiment (through a work opening). Because of the downflow air passed through a HEPA-filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air), the working surface is free of particles.
Federagi FVA/A1 autoclave that is meant to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to pressurized saturated steam 121 °C.
Small Autoclave
The Innova S44i is a large capacity, temperature controlled (refrigerated) shaker allowing the use of high-volume flasks in large numbers in a compact footprint. The iconic slide up door provides easy access to your samples.
The photosynthetic LED lightbank provides the ability to evenly light the entire platform across a wide intensity range – and it’s programmable.
The VisioNize touch interface introduces onboard monitoring, user management and the ability to export data.
Small Tabletop Shaker
Heratherm IGS440; Large Incubator to provide optimal humidity and temperature to maintain microbiological cultures and nurture its growth.
Inside of the incubator
Small digital incubator offers an economical and space saving solution for microbiology or haematology applications. The temperature can be freely adjusted in increments of 0,1 °C up to a maximum of 70 °C.
Heating elements are incorporated into the housing base and walls to ensure temperature stability and uniformity. The MI Lab has three mini-incubators (next to several large units).
Memmert UF260 · Precise drying, heating, ageing, burn-in and hardening.
Inside of Memmert
Snijders Climate Chamber with programmable temperature and humidity. This evolution of design allows for a high degree of uniformity of light, temperature and humidity across the entire chamber.
It has also a large temperature and humidity range to allow mimicking of climatic conditions, anywhere in the world, accurately. Diurnal cycles incorporating a dawn/dusk cycle can be programmed in real time.
Recirculating Fume hood which is a type of local ventilation device that is designed to limit exposure to hazardous or toxic fumes, vapors or dusts.
Fume hood display
Usual kitchen equipment
Basic refrigerators to keep samples and stock fresh
Concrete Mixer is used to mix components in large volumes.
Microscopes
Freeze Dryer to remove water from samples.