Quiet Storm: Music for Insects
Quiet Storm: Music for Insects is a project in which I collaborate with the Spanish company ProTiberia to enhance the mating process of the Tenebrio Molitor beetle. The Tenebrio Molitor is a rich source of protein that has the potential to radically transform the agricultural sector by reducing its ecological footprint and lowering production costs.
The main challenge of the project is to optimize the beetles’ mating process so that farms can scale up their operations. I aim to use sound and vibrations to achieve this. The beetles can detect vibrations (and thus, sound) through tiny sensory hairs on their legs, and I hope that by providing sound stimulation, they will be encouraged to engage in mating more readily.
Beyond the scientific and economic dimensions, the artistic and poetic aspect of the project is equally important. I want to consider the beetles as sentient beings: reatures that deserve care and a good quality of life. By treating them well, I believe they will be happier and more inclined to reproduce.
This project is part of the S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities programme, which supports a number of art-science initiatives. I'm documenting the progress on my blog.
The Hungry EcoCities project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101069990.
The main challenge of the project is to optimize the beetles’ mating process so that farms can scale up their operations. I aim to use sound and vibrations to achieve this. The beetles can detect vibrations (and thus, sound) through tiny sensory hairs on their legs, and I hope that by providing sound stimulation, they will be encouraged to engage in mating more readily.
Beyond the scientific and economic dimensions, the artistic and poetic aspect of the project is equally important. I want to consider the beetles as sentient beings: reatures that deserve care and a good quality of life. By treating them well, I believe they will be happier and more inclined to reproduce.
This project is part of the S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities programme, which supports a number of art-science initiatives. I'm documenting the progress on my blog.
The Hungry EcoCities project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101069990.