One thing i wish i had time for if it wasn’t for finals would be to attend lectures at Genspace, the exciting collective that allows everyone who has the  curiosity to engage in science. This is not going to a museum. This is learning a diverse skill set that allows you to explore the scientific method and to observe the world in a new way. The tireless Sun wong Lim @bookhling tipped me off to the winter offerings:

Season’s greetings to you all future mad scientists!

After a whole year’s successful run of teaching people how to work the
tools of molecular biology and how to hack genetic circuits I’m proud
to announce the last biology course at Genspace this year.

Experience what more than a hundred pioneering individuals went
through this year! Learn how to hack genetic circuits and see it come
to life in hands-on lab courses, and all the basic lab techniques and
skills necessary to do it on your own in our unique community biolab
located in the heart of Brooklyn.

Build biosensors! Hack your ancestral heritage using your own
mitochondrial DNA sequence! Think of new applications for light
sensitive genetic receptors! I dare you to think of a better holiday
gift for your loved ones than teaching them how to genetically
engineer living organisms.

Biotech Crash Course – Three sessions Sunday afternoon Dec 4, 11, & 18
3-7 PM at Genspace NYC

Did you know that an entire human genome can be sequenced in three
days? And that all the cheese that you eat is made with genetically
engineered rennet? Biotechnology touches our lives in many ways, and
it’s changing with blinding speed. Learn the basic techniques of
genetic engineering in this hands-on lab experience. Isolate
mitochondrial DNA and genotype yourself using PCR, put jellyfish genes
into bacteria and learn to cut and manipulate DNA with enzymes and gel
electrophoresis. This course is aimed at people with no previous
biology or biotech knowledge or experience. Taught by Dr. Ellen
Jorgensen. Course fee is $300 and includes all materials.
Contact her at ejorgensen@genspace.org for further inquiries

Intro to Synthetic Biology Course – Three sessions Saturday afternoon
Dec 3, 10, & 17  2-6 PM at Genspace NYC

Synthetic biology is the science of using living organisms as if they
were biological machines, following the principles of engineering
design. Taught by Dr. Oliver Medvedik, you’ll learn how to reprogram
life forms using standardized genetic parts. These genetic parts serve
as building blocks in the fabrication of genetic “circuits,”
previously unseen in nature.  During the course, you will create novel
genetic circuits that instruct bacteria to smell like bananas,
generate color in response to stimuli, or glow! No previous experience
necessary but most people find that taking the Biotech Crash Course
first is very helpful. Course fee is $300 and includes all materials.
Contact him at oliver@genspace.org if you have any questions

Feel free to direct any other questions to info@genspace.org

Looking forward to hacking with you guys!