Program

The ELM Workshop will be a dialogic event at which all participants are encouraged to weigh in on concepts and challenges in the field. The solutions and collaborations we develop as a community will have a strong impact on the future of ELMs. Distinct from other presentation-driven seminars, the ELM Workshop will:

  • Prompt attendees to consider current roadblocks and opportunities;
  • Focus on problem-solving discussions in both large forums and small breakout groups;
  • Balance discussion time with formal presentations, and encourage interaction with speakers during their talks;
  • Involve academic, industry, and government representatives across many disciplines and of all levels for comprehensive viewpoints;
  • Facilitate the formation of collaborations and coalitions to continue tackling roadblocks and sustain communication after the event;
  • Feature breaks for informal discussions among participants.

The following is a tentative program for the 2025 ELM Workshop and is subject to change. Speaker topics are suggestions and speakers should plan to utilize a significant portion of their allotted time to answer questions. We encourage you to submit an abstract for the flash talk session, poster session, and speaker slots here.

Wednesday, October 22

1:00-2:00 pm Check-in
2:00-2:30 pm Welcome
2:30-3:15 pm The state of Engineered Living Materials discussion prompt
3:15-4:00 pm Keynote: Markus Buehler, AI in ELMs
4:00-4:40 pm Panel: Funding ELM development
4:40-5:00 pm Flash Talks
5:00-6:30 pm Poster Session

Thursday, October 23

8:30-9:00 am Breakfast
9:00-10:30 am Panel and Discussion: Ethical use and biosecurity
10:30-10:50 am Session: Growing ELMs from a single cell
10:50-11:20 am Break
11:20 am-12:05 pm Keynote: Seunghyun Sim, Molecular assembly of ELMs
12:05-1:30 pm Lunch
1:30-1:50 pm Session: Non-model chassis
1:50-2:10 pm Session: Toughening ELMs
2:10-2:40 pm Break
2:40-4:10 pm Panel and Discussion: Communication and societal adoption of ELMs
4:10-4:30 pm Session: Top-down assembly of ELMs
4:30-5:30 pm Break
5:30 pm Reception and Keynote

Friday, October 24

8:30-9:00 am Breakfast
9:00-9:20 am Session: Emerging applications in ELMs
9:20am-10:50 am Panel and Discussion: Transitioning ELMs out of the lab
10:50-11:00 am Break
11:00 am-11:45 pm Keynote: Adam Arkin
11:45 am-12:30 pm Closing remarks and future directions

All times in Central