Biotricity

Networked sound installation and art-science research project

Biotricity sonifies the process of generating electricity from bacteria living in pond and lake, or in common, everyday waste water. The microbial fuel cells is the next-generation bio-technology that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by using microorganisms – bacteria found in the dirty water. Someday, this technology could be used to upgrade waste treatment facilities into power plants producing renewable energy. The networked sound & bio-electrical installation consists of a “bacteria fuel” cell network altogether creating a mini bacteria-power station. Continuous measurements deliver audible and visible impressions of this form of electricity generation by micro-organisms, and of its fluctuations. Thus the “bacteria fuel” process is interpreted in sound structures providing an aesthetic perspective on the interaction between nature and technology, biologic systems and electronic networks, biology and computing. 

Producer: RIXC in collaboration with biologist Arturs Grunduls and Laboratory of Hydron Energy materials of University of Latvia.