Metagenomics is the field of research which investigates the microbial component of the environment. It is a rapidly growing field, enabled by the recent decrease in cost and increase in throughput of DNA sequencing technology. We can now measure the microbial component of our environment and have the opportunity to incorporate this new microbial metric into the design of our built environments and products.
In this class we will cover a basic understanding of the state of current research in environmental microbiomes. Students will get hands-on experience in which they will collect their own samples, obtain DNA sequences, and learn the computational methods to analyze genomic data. We will design physical devices to interact with this invisible component of our environment, either in form of sampling instruments, bioreactors or bio receptive substrates that propose new symbiotic relationships with the microbial environment.

By the completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand of the state of current research in environmental microbiomes
• Hands on experience gathering samples and computational methods for DNA
  sequence analysis for individual samples and comparative methods for large datasets
• Introduce speculative thinking to their practice
• Materialize concepts with new strategies for rapid product prototyping
• Develop technological visions that provoke thought rather than communicate a vision of how things will or should be

By Chris Woebken / Elizabeth Hénaff