School of the Art Institute of Chicago

L.A.M.B.D.A. (The Los Angeles Microbial Bio-Desalination Archive)

finalist project

Gosha Shapiro, Kai McAliley

The Los Angeles Microbial Bio-Desalination Archive (L.A.M.B.D.A.) envisions an alternate history where Los Angeles tackles water scarcity by adopting biologically integrated infrastructure. Central to this vision is a speculative desalination plant using the soil bacterium Bacillus cereus to filter saltwater. Later, the salt-loving microbe Halobacterium NRC-1 was introduced to manage desalination salt waste. The archive traces this alternate timeline’s development—from microbial experiments to cultural adoption—highlighting potential innovative solutions for the current global water crisis by blending biology and technology in urban water management.

The Prairie Project

Nonfinalist project

Jonathan Melo, Elsa Ding, Sandhya Theresa Krishnaswamy

The Prairie Project uses the scent of the prairie to explore the commodification and loss of this key ecosystem of the American Midwest.

KeraTip

Nonfinalist project

Minji "Elle" Kang, Yanran "Michelle" Zhao

KeraTip is a set of DIY biodegradable nail tips made from keratin extracted from human hair and strengthened with bioplastic. It offers a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic nails while minimizing waste and promoting circular beauty practices.

At What Cost

Nonfinalist project

Julia Johnson, Ruby Welsh

At What Cost is an immersive simulation that offers a haunting glimpse into distant futures shaped by today’s choices. As a lone traveler, you journey through a fractured world—an eerie landscape of decayed innovation and nature’s quiet rebellion. Scattered relics and cryptic entities reveal fragments of humanity’s past decisions, inviting reflection on bold progress and careless disregard. Through exploration and narrative discovery, the project challenges users to confront the consequences of human action and inaction. At What Cost is not just a game—it’s a speculative experience designed to provoke dialogue about responsibility, resilience, and the future we are shaping.

Dr. Andrew Scarpelli is a Chicago science and art professor whose training is in microbiology and synthetic biology. He is a 2020 Global Community Biosummit fellow and SciArt Resident in “The Bridge” program. He is cofounder and president of the community biolab ChiTownBio. He is greatly interested in expanding the utility of biotechnology into fields such as art and social justice.