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., 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