Our Crosslabs 2024 has started! In collaboration between BioArt Laboratories, Fontys and the International School Eindhoven, three teachers-in-training develop a program that brings together life sciences, art and design. Through experimentation and hands-on development, they work towards master classes for primary and secondary school students with using the Symbiocene as a basis – the era after the Anthropocene, in which humans are no longer the centre of attention, but live in symbiosis with nature, culture and technology.

Young students with the subject ‘Industrial Product Design’ from the International School Eindhoven participate in these Crosslabs, where we delve deeper into the Symbiocene with stimulating examples from the creative sector. We dive into the world of symbiotic relationships and interconnectedness of both humans and nature, and what impact this has on different disciplines in our daily lives. In doing so, we explore from the beginning to end process of design and product development that is still mostly based on Anthropocene values and models. Through non-human perspectives, the students get hands-on with the subject themselves and learn the value of what it actually takes to tackle challenges with a meaningful, sustainable mindset.

In the first lesson, students are introduced to the concept of the Symbiocene, learning what it means and how it differs from the current state of the world. Already familiar with resources like fossil fuels, plastic, metal, and wood, as well as basic production processes, they build on this new foundation to deepen their understanding of sustainable practices.

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