Bio-Bling: Bone jewellery

You can't give the one you love your heart. But you can grow him or her a ring from your bone tissue! Artists and material scientists are collaborating to create something special. Come and check out the bio-bling and try making some of your own.

Find out more about the groundbreaking biojewellery project by exploring the 4 different zones around the d.cafe. Meet Designers, Donors, Scientists and Surgeons then tell us what you think about this controversial technique.

1 Donating cells (Downstairs in d.café)
Medical Ethicist Iain Brassington joins the couples involved in the bio jewellery project to discuss the relationship between medical research and personal desire. Why did the couples get involved? What do the rings mean to them? Is this a process you would be prepared to undergo, and how difficult is it to donate cells?

2 Growing bone tissue (Upstairs in d.lounge)
Scientist Ian Thompson discusses recent advances in biomedical engineering. What is the current medical need for his research, and what are his expectations for the future of tissue engineering? Find out more about bioactive materials.

3 Growing bone tissue and designing the jewellery (Downstairs in d.café)
Jeweller Nikki Stott and biologist Lucy Di Silvio show how jewellery processes and cell biology have been brought together to create rings. Get hands-on with a variety of tools and technology, including 3D modelling software. Is human tissue simply another material for designers to play with?

4 Creating a debate (Downstairs in d.café)
Designer Tobie Kerridge and photographer Michael Venning talk about how the project has been developed, documented and presented. An archive of documentary material includes initial designs for the rings and microscope images of the couples' bone tissue cultures. How can design and science be brought together to provoke discussion?

For further information about the project visit : http://www.biojewellery.com