Students Envision the Future of Biotech at BDC Summit 2023, June 22-23
45 schools will present projects developed in collaboration with artists, designers, and biologists.
New York, NY, June 1, 2023 – On June 22-23, over 200 high school and university students from 30 countries will present their ideas and compete for the Glass Microbe at Biodesign Challenge Summit 2023. Their projects apply biotechnology to reshape architecture, food, fashion, health, materials, energy, and more.
Forty leading experts in academia, industry, and the arts will judge the projects and award prizes, including Outstanding Field Research, Outstanding Social Critique and our sponsored prize, the Science Sandbox Prize for Public Engagement.
Summit speakers include Amber Benezra, Harris Wang, and Kim Stanley Robinson, bestselling science fiction author and a “Hero of the Environment”, Time magazine. Speakers will give their talks on Wednesday, June 23rd and Thursday, June 24th. There will also be a live panel discussion on June 24th where audiences can directly engage with students, experts, and speakers as well as a performance by BDC community member, Pearlyn Lii.
“BDC is bringing a new generation of creators to biotech. Creators are not solely scientists but artists, designers, and people from diverse backgrounds who bring new perspectives to the technology,” says Daniel Grushkin, founder and Executive Director of Biodesign Challenge. “Our hope is that BDC generates fresh conversations about what we want from emerging technologies.”
Biodesign Challenge (BDC) is an international competition and education program that partners high school and university students with artists, designers, and scientists to imagine, create, and critique the future of biotechnology. During the academic year, students develop bold and feasible projects that use biotechnology to address pressing issues or to critique biotechnology’s impact on society.
Over the last seven years, BDC alumni have founded startups (raising $20M+ collectively), received patents, and won awards including the James Dyson Award, H&M Global Change Award, National Geographic Chasing Genius Award, LVMH Innovation Award, Prix Ars Electronica, among others. They have exhibited at museums and festivals, including the V&A, London Design Biennale, Gregg Museum, World Economic Forum, the Tech Museum, Dutch Design Week, MIT, and the United Nations.
Register to attend the BDC Summit
ABOUT BIODESIGN CHALLENGE SUMMIT 2023
Program agendas, speaker and judge bios, and sponsor information can be found on the Summit 2023 event page.
Project Presentations: June 22-23
Gallery Show: June 22
Awards Ceremony: June 23
MEDIA CONTACT: Daniel Grushkin, dgrushkin@biodesignchallenge.org