SynFlo is an interactive installation that utilizes tangible interaction to make core concepts of synthetic biology accessible to the public. This playful installation allows users to create useful virtual life forms from standardized genetic components through the manipulation of augmented object that mirror scientific instruments in order to explore synthetic biology concepts and protocols. These virtual E. coli, can serve as environmental biosensors that when deployed into an environment represented by a tabletop computer, detect toxins and change their color as an indicator. The goal of this project is to explore ways to develop effective interactive activities for outreach in STEM without the limitations of access to a lab bench while communicating the excitement of cutting-edge research.
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