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    Materials and Living Systems, DATE: 13 Sep – 29 Oct 2021, weeks 37–43

    The Ocean, Baltic Sea and Algae: Regenerative Practices and Ocean Literacy for Sea Health.

    Key Words: Ocean Literacy, Biomaterials, Blue Economy, Sea Health, Experimental Design, Regenerative Design, Design, Activism, Transition Design, Marine Resources, System Thinking, Hands on Material Development

    The task: Engage with the Baltic Sea, its problems and potentials and our human relation to it. How can this relationship     become less destructive? How can we know, care, act better? And what can designers bring to the table to address these issues? Are we visionaries, material developers, advocates, networkers, visualisers? Imagine a future in which seaweed is cultivated more widely. What would it look like? What would we make from algae and other marine bio-materials? How would this change our relationship to the sea?

    Imagine, develop and test what things we might create from the sea in ways that rebalance and regenerate the local ecosystem. You can come up with a wide range of responses, ranging from material development to future scenarios, community engagements or poetic reflections on the theme of algae and the sea. Have a look at the ‘Seaweed Shrine at the Cooler Planet Exhibition to get inspired. Research questions may include: What kind of new marine materials can you imagine? How can you connect your designerly skills to the sea? Will there be a new local cuisine, local services or local craft? Could seaweed be used as architectural material, for medical purposes, in schools or craft studios? What kinds of new structures, companies, collectives are needed for seaweed farming and processing?Can we imagine new business models that benefit both, the ecosystem and the community?

    Teaching Team

    - Anna van der Lei, anna.van.der.lei@aalto.fi
    - Julia Lohmann, julia.lohmann@aalto.fi
    - Student assistant, reading circle tutor: Ena Naito, ena.naito@aalto.fi
    - Guest lecturers and contributors: