Emma Sicher
Emma Sicher is an eco-social designer investigating materials and foods made with microorganisms. In particular, she researched microbial cellulose (MC) at the Faculty of Design and Art of the Free University of Bolzano, where she obtained her BA and MA degrees and conducted an interdisciplinary research project at Design F(r)iction Lab.
Her research focuses especially on MC-based materialities for packaging and food applications, MC production, and processing, with special attention on systemic dynamics and (g)local perspectives. In the project Weaving she deepens entanglements among design, microbiology, and anthropologic principles and how they could be translated into innovative MC-based appications. Her interest is especially in multispecies and multi-scale experimental approaches.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
Articles in Edited Volumes
Cohen, N., Sicher, E., Uğur Yavuz, S. 2022. »From Agricultural Waste to Microbial Growth and (G)Local Resilience.« Senses 2019. In Developments in Design Research and Practice, edited by Duarte E., Rosa C. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 17. Basel: Springer International Publishing, 81-92.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86596-2_7
Cohen, N., Sicher, E., Merino, I., Yavuz, S. U. 2021. »An Open-Source Bioreactor Enhancing Microbial Cellulose Production and Novel Sustainable substances.« KES-SDM 2021. In Sustainable Design and Manufacturing, edited by Scholz, S.G., Howlett, R.J., Setchi, R. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 262. Springer Singapore, 77-86.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6128-0_8
Articles
Cohen, N., Sicher, E., Ayala-Garcia, C., Merino Sanchez-Fayos, I., Conterno, L., Ugur Yavuz, S. 2023. »Innocell Bioreactor: An Open-Source Development to Produce Biomaterials for Food and Packaging Based on Fermentation Processes.« In Modeling Methods for Fermentation Processes, special issue. Fermentation 2023.
https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9100915
Cohen, N., Sicher, E., Uğur Yavuz, S. 2020. »Designing with microbial cellulose to feed new biological cycles.« International Journal of Food Design, 4 (2): 155-171.
https://doi.org/10.1386/ijfd_00003_1
Conference Proceedings
Sicher, E., Hengge, R. 2024. »MULTISPECIES MATTER: Elaborating on human-plant-microbe cooperation through transdisciplinary investigation of bacterial cellulose.« Presented at the BIOCALIBRATED: TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR BIODESIGN PRACTICES, London, 30 November 2023. Cambridge University Press, Research Directions: Biotechnology Design, forthcoming.
Sicher, E., Uğur Yavuz, S., Cohen, N., 2023. »Designing matter across scales with microorganisms The MMMM (Micro-Mezzo-Macro-Meta) approach.« Presented at the EKSIG 2023 Conference, Politecnico di Milano, 19 June 2023. Politecnico di Milano, 311-342.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374481672_Designing_matter_across_scales_with_microorganisms_The_MMMM_Micro-Mezzo-Macro-Meta_approach
Talks & Presentations
Sicher, E., Hengge, R. Interspecies Cooperation / Fermentation from the Microbial and the Human Perspective. Talk at the Brown Bag Brunch, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 4 April 2023.
Sicher, E. Designing matter across scales with microorganisms: The MMMM (Micro-Mezzo-Macro-Meta) approach. Paper presentation at the EKSIG 2023: From Abstractness to Concreteness - experiential knowledge and the role of prototypes in design research, Sustainable and Biological solutions. Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano. Hybrid. 19 June 2023.
https://www.eksig2023.polimi.it
Sicher, E. Fermentation as a Relational Medium for Eco-Social Resilience. Talk at the Le Giornate della Fermentazione, Cima Norma, Dangio. 23 September 2023.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjVu428_duBAxWLXvEDHRMXDTgQFnoECBcQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffuturefermentation.ch%2F&usg=AOvVaw2gP2-Yv47LoF0LTq6ShbNq&opi=89978449
Sicher, E. Progettare con i microorganismi per un futuro resiliente. Talk at the TEDx Bolzano, Delta. Fiera Bolzano. 20 May 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCmxJ8Uua1c
Invited Moderation/ Comment
Sicher, E., Weber, R., Kesselring, R., Asa, P. MATTERSCAPES. A Studio Visit. Doctoral Presentations, repair, restore, regenerate, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Moderation by Perraudin, Léa. 27 June 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/11320/matterscapes-a-studio-visit
Events & Workshops
Sicher, E., Le Calvé, M. Sensing Ecologies of Care with Tempeh. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. During book launch »Driving the Human: Seven Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal«. 10 May 2023 - 10 October 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/10912/driving-the-human-seven-prototypes-for-eco-social-renewal
Sicher, E. Fermentation as eco-social medium [theoretical and practical workshop]. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 10 July 2023.
Teaching & Courses
Sicher, E. (Guest lecturer) WORKING WITH SCOBY: A material-driven approach for local resilience [Online lecture]. Lecture, Design Department, Politecnico of Milano. 28 November 2023.