Andrew Hessel: Writing chromosomes with code

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Scientist Andrew Hessel explains the exciting possibilities of synthetic biology, including the potential to move from blockbuster drugs to a pipeline of personalized medicines. In so doing, he makes a case for his ambition to “genetically engineer everything in the world.” For more information, visit poptech.org.

Autodesk Distinguished Researcher Andrew Hessel is a catalyst in biological technologies, helping industry, academics, and authorities better understand the changes happening in life science. Andrew is a key member of the Bio/Nano/Programmable Matter group at Autodesk Research. He is also the co-founder of the Pink Army Cooperative, the world’s first cooperative biotechnology company, which is aiming to make open source viral therapies for cancer.

FULL BIO | WEBSITE | TWITTER

Helen Fisher: What we Want

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Biological anthropologist Helen Fisher walks us through the biology of love. From the importance of one-night stands to the solidity of marriage, Fisher shreds the common wisdom of what love is and isn't in the 21st century.

Biological anthropologist Helen Fisher walks us through the biology of love. From the importance of one-night stands to the solidity of marriage, Fisher shreds the common wisdom of what love is and isn't in the 21st century.

FULL BIO | WEBSITE | TWITTER | AMAZON

Jessica Richman: Citizen Science

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Jessica Richman

Jessica Richman is a co-founder of uBiome, which aims to make the human body searchable using the knowledge, effort and ideas of the public, as well as health data, to solve some of the world’s most important problems.

uBiome gathers data by sending participants kits which they can use to sample their microbiomes, and then engages with the public regarding their data. uBiome is changing the way that the world's scientific agenda is set, to be more democratic, decentralized and open to all.

more at: www.ubiome.com

Christina Agapakis: Toe Cheese

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Christina Agapakis

Christina Agapakis is a biologist who studies the relationships between humans and bacteria at many scales and through multiple disciplines.

Using synthetic biology, genomics, and art, Agapakis explores the evolution and design of microbial communities in the soil, in our bodies and in cheese. Christina has been listed in Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30: Science and Healthcare and her work has been featured in the Journal of Biological Engineering and Nature Chemical Biology, among others.

Her work shows us how art and design can have a valuable impact on the ways we engage with and practice science.

more at: www.agapakis.com

Kári Stefánsson: Decoding genetics

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Kari Stefansson

Dr. Kári Stefánsson is recognized as a leading figure in human genetics who studies the fuzzy relationship between genetic mutations and environmental factors.

“Where is the line of distinction between nature and nurture? Where is the line of distinction between genes and environment? It really doesn’t exist.”

Joy Reidenberg: Weird Whale

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Joy Reidenberg

Joy Reidenberg, a fast-talking, energetic anatomist captivated the PopTech audience with her talk, “Why Whales are Weird.”  With one amazing fact after the next (Whales evolved from deer-like creatures! Their spinal movement is more like galloping in the water! They don’t actually spout water! They have mustaches!), she took us through the story of evolution using whales as a model. She explained that evolution is the process to mediate resilience and thus, survival.

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