AMC Creative Synergy Seminar Series 02 | The Hybrid Turn: Designing with Living Matter and Machines

💫AMC Creative Synergy Seminar Series 02 💫

🌱 The second instalment of the AMC Creative Synergy Seminar Series, titled “The Hybrid Turn: Designing with Living Matter and Machines”, was successfully convened on Jan 7, 2026, delivered by Prof. Harpreet SAREEN, Associate Professor of Interaction and Media Design and Director of Synthetic Ecosystems Lab at Parsons School of Design, The New School (New York).

🤖 Prof. Sareen’s talk explored the convergence of biological intelligence and artificial intelligence through hybrid systems that integrate living organisms with computational technologies. He showcased groundbreaking projects such as plant-robot hybrids that navigate using plant electrical signals, nanosensors embedded in plant tissue to reveal environmental data, and techniques for actuating plant growth through external stimuli. These innovations challenge conventional notions of sensing and interaction, positioning plants as active participants in technological systems rather than passive biomaterials. 🌿 By bridging plant physiology with digital systems, Sareen demonstrated how design can leverage ecological intelligence to create richer, more sustainable technological futures.

🗓️ Date & Time
Jan 7, 2026, 4:30 - 5:30pm

🎭 Title
The Hybrid Turn: Designing with Living Matter and Machines

👤 Speaker bio
Harpreet Sareen is an Associate Professor of Interaction and Media Design at Parsons School of Design, The New School (New York), where he directs the Synthetic Ecosystems Lab. He has held visiting professorships internationally at several institutions and most recently is a Visiting Associate Professor at MIT. Sareen earned graduate degrees from MIT Media Lab and The University of Tokyo. His research explores post-anthropocentric design, developing hybrid technologies that integrate living organisms with digital systems to reimagine human-nature relationships.

Sareen has lived and worked across six countries including Austria, India, Japan, France, Singapore, and the USA, with experience spanning Google Creative Lab, Microsoft Research, MIT Media Lab, Ars Electronica Museum, National University of Singapore, Keio University, Telecom Paris, and The University of Tokyo. previously a Fellow at the Berggruen Institute (Los Angeles) and INK Fellow (India). His projects include Elowan, a plant-robot hybrid that autonomously moves
toward light, and BubbleTex, which uses carbonation bubbles as an interactive medium. This work has earned prestigious awards including CHI Golden Mouse, Edison Gold, SXSW Interactive Innovation, MIT Technology Review Under 35 Innovator, and Fast Company World Changing Ideas.

His research has been published at premier venues like CHI, SIGGRAPH, and DIS, and exhibited internationally at Ars Electronica Festival, Somerset House, CID Grand Hornu, and MIT Museum. Sareen serves as advisor to venture-backed startups and has been consulted by government offices including the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. He regularly lectures at universities and innovation centers worldwide and has been invited to TEDx and INK Talks.

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💬 About the AMC Creative Synergy Seminar Series (CSSS)
Organized by the Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC) at HKUST, the Creative Synergy Seminar Series invites distinguished speakers from diverse fields to engage in discussions about the dynamic intersection of art and technology. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the seminar aims to highlight the transformative potential of technology (particularly, generative AI) in the arts and encourage interdisciplinary approaches that reflect today's cultural landscape.