MaP ALIVE Symposium 2024: Showcasing research in engineering with living materials
The MaP ALIVE Symposium, held from 12-13 September 2024 at ETH Zurich, was a resounding success, with over hundred attendees coming together to hear about advancements in engineering with living materials.
Prof. Ellen Roche from MIT
Engaged audience during Prof. Roche's talk
Prof. Kit Parker from Harvard University ALIVE fellows and partners lining up to give their one-minute poster pitches
ALIVE Fellow Diego Giovanoli during his poster pitch - one of eighteen
ALIVE Fellow Margherita Bernero convincing the audience to visit her poster
Lively discussing research and posters Poster session and networking reception: an opportunity to connect with other researchers
A bird's view on the poster exhibition Networking reception
Prof. Aurélie Carlier from Maastricht University
Prof. Matthias Lütolf from EPFL
The symposium marked a significant milestone—the culmination of the first phase of the ETH ALIVE initiative, which focuses on advanced engineering with living materials. Over 130 participants signed up for the event. Across two days, seven distinguished speakers from leading global institutions shared their cutting-edge research and insights. On top, poster presentations from ALIVE fellows and partners showcased ETH’s own research in the field.
World-class keynotes, poster pitches, and networking...
The opening keynote was delivered by Lyesse Laloui from EPFL, who discussed innovative methods for tailoring soil properties using bio-geo-chemical approaches. This was followed by Holger Class from the University of Stuttgart, who presented on the challenges of biomineralisation in porous media from a modeller's perspective.
The afternoon session featured Ellen Roche from MIT and Kit Parker from Harvard University with captivating keynotes: Roche explored recreating cardiac biomechanics with hybrid hearts, while Parker discussed building muscular pumps inspired by biological systems.
To round off the first day, 18 ALIVE fellows and partners delivered one-minute pitches summarizing their latest research. They invited participants to continue the discussion during the poster exhibition and networking reception, which followed suit. Snacking, drinking, and exchanging research ideas – what a vibrant platform for sparking new connections and thought-provoking conversations!
...continued on the second day
Day two kicked off with Aurélie Carlier from Maastricht University, who presented computational models of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Matthias Lütolf from EPFL followed with a discussion on the exciting field of organoid engineering. The final public talk, delivered remotely by Adam W. Feinberg from Carnegie Mellon University, focused on engineering large, vascularised, functional human tissues, leaving attendees with much to reflect upon.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers, poster presenters, and participants for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks also go to the organisers, volunteers, and everyone working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the event.
As we celebrate the successful completion of the first phase of the ETH ALIVE programme, we look forward to the next phase of exploration and innovation. Together, we are paving the way for transformative breakthroughs in materials science and bioengineering!
More about the ALIVE programme: https://map.ethz.ch/research/alive