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DIYbio Things: Open Source Biology Tools as Platforms for Hybrid Knowledge Production and Scientific Participation

Authors:

Eric PaulosAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '15: Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Pages 4065 - 4068

https://doi.org/10.1145/2702123.2702235

Published: 18 April 2015 Publication History

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Abstract

DIYbio (Do It Yourself Biology) is a growing movement of scientists, hobbyists, artists, and tinkerers who practice biology outside of professional settings. In this paper, we present our work with several open source DIYbio tools, including OpenPCR and Pearl Blue Transilluminator, which can be used to test DNA samples for specific sequences. We frame these platforms as things that gather heterogeneous materials and concerns, and enable new forms of knowledge transfer. Working with these hybrid systems in professional and DIY settings, we conducted a workshop where non-biologists tested food products for genetic modifications. Our findings suggest new design directions at the intersection of biology, technology, and DIY: i) DIYbio platforms as rich tools for hybrid knowledge production; and ii) open source biology as a site for public engagement with science.

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Index Terms

DIYbio Things: Open Source Biology Tools as Platforms for Hybrid Knowledge Production and Scientific Participation
1. Human-centered computing

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Published In

CHI '15: Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 2015

4290 pages

ISBN:9781450331456

DOI:10.1145/2702123

General Chairs:
Bo Begole
Huawei, USA
,
Jinwoo Kim
Yonsei University, Korea
,
Program Chairs:
Kori Inkpen
Microsoft Research, USA
,
Woontack Woo
KAIST, Korea

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 18 April 2015

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CHI '15

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SIGCHI

CHI '15: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 18 - 23, 2015

Seoul, Republic of Korea

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CHI '15 Paper Acceptance Rate 486 of 2,120 submissions, 23%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 6,199 of 26,314 submissions, 24%

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ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 26 - May 1, 2025

Yokohama , Japan

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3689050.3707674
Bell FCampo Woytuk NSøndergaard MAlistar M(2024)Biodegradation as More-than-Human UnmakingACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/368552631:6(1-41)Online publication date: 16-Dec-2024
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At the seams: DIYbio and opportunities for HCI

Sociomateriality: Infrastructuring and Appropriation of Artifacts

Socially engaged arts practice in HCI

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