The Bio Grow Lab is Green Lab’s in-house BioSafety Level 1 creative biology laboratory
It features scientific equipment, DIY lab equipment, storage space for your projects, experiments and research and hot desking facilities.
Our aim is to create an environment for an emerging bio-circular economy to reimagine all aspects of food, waste and living systems.
The lab will be a place for undergrad and postgrad research based projects bringing art, design, biodesign, science and digital fabrication together.
It can also serve a space for the biologist who is looking for a creative environment to experiment.
Or even someone who is interested in exploring do it yourself biology who has never had access to the facilities or support.
At Bio Grow Lab we have an ethos of working within the learn-by-doing and debate-by-making community of citizen science.
This lab was made with the intention to be used to make mistakes in, to learn from and to progress in.
It is an open source creative platform where biology becomes art and art becomes biology.
How do I become a member?
To be able to use the Bio Grow Lab you must first become a Bio Grow Lab member.
If you are interested please fill in a membership form.
Once you have filled in our form you need to book a Bio Grow Lab induction.
This 2 hour induction is £30 and is compulsory for all members. It is important to understand the rules and regulations of the lab as its not just you safety that is accountable for but the other members who use the space too.
We work on a strict clean lab policy and will take no excuses if a member is found mistreating equipment or being irresponsible with biological agents.
A member of the team will walk you through the lab, explain the booking system, induct you on available equipment, run through the lab code of conduct and terms of use and health and safety.
This will also include some time to discuss your project/research with the team to gain some feedback and discuss possible ideas and any help they may be able to offer.
We have a few membership options available:
FULL TIME MEMBERSHIP
- unlimited access to Bio Grow Lab (fair use policy)
- communal hot desk
- storage space
- discounted event space hire
- discounted access to our other lab facilities
- free wifi, coffee and tea
What kind of equipment can I find in the Bio Grow Lab?
- (Micro) centrifuge
- Light microscopes
- (UV-VIS) spectroscope
- Digital scales
- (Micro) pipettes
- Incubator
- OpenPCR machine
- Bento Lab DNA gel electrophoresis kit
- Fridge and freezer
- pH meter
- Sterile hood
- Pressure cooker / Autoclave
The Bio Lab includes a host of science laboratory and experimentation equipment.
See the full list here.
In addition to becoming a member of the lab we would also like to get more people involved in DIY science so aim to host community based workshops.
We will be hosting a wide range of workshops from DIY DNA extraction and visualisation to making agar art, and hopefully offer some short courses to help those who are interested in the world of open science but not sure how to proceed next.
If you are interested in hosting a workshop with us you can fill in this form and one of the team will contact you.
If you wish to keep up to date with the workshops we will be hosting the best think to do is to sign up to our newsletter
I am a Bio Lab member. Where do I get materials?
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Health & Safety Information
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Practical info
Opening hours
Monday – Friday
10am – 5pm