Tech Project
Description of the challenges faced by the Tech Project
The NANO2WATER explores a portfolio of technologies which includes biosensing devices and novel tailored nanomaterials for selective recognition and capture of water contaminants. The main outcome of this project is the integration of such technologies with electronics and network connectivity in an embedded device allowing water quality real time monitoring. Thus, creating a solution under the IoT paradigm. Being part of the NANO2WATER project team, the artist will have access to all project technologies and know how, including prototypes and validation reports, image banks, data sets and a variability of sounds produced by a complete set of high performance equipment.
Brief description of technology
The NANO2WATER project explores the development of new systems for water contaminants capture and monitoring by means of novel tailored nanomaterials. More precisely, the nanotechnology-enabled devices developed are: 1) Absorption devices for the capture of water contaminants with new nanomaterials; 2) Handheld analysis systems for the detection of the presence of eDNA from specific invasive and harmful species and an automated in‐situ monitoring system; 3) Real time systems for “on the spot” detection and quantification of water contaminants such as waterborne biotoxins and pathogens. All those devices are intended for improved - and most part of the cases, real time - monitoring of water contaminants and invasive species, which will represent a useful tool to decrease the time of reaction for the decision making process that will enable the mitigation of their impact. Those systems are created to be able to work autonomously or with minimum participation of the user, sending the acquired information via wireless, constituting one of the elements included in the IoT concept.
What the project is looking to gain from the collaboration and what kind of artist would be suitable
Under the aim of this collaboration the NANO2WATER is expecting to have as primary result an additional input to the innovative aspects of water monitoring technologies from a radically different point of view, namely through the exploration of ways to integrate the technologies available (sensing, nanomaterials and electronics) into a prototypes. Organizational learning through the adoption of new processes for technological development and innovation is expected to be a spillover of this collaboration. Considering the societal challenge of a sustainable management and exploitation of the water resources, activities engaging public with science, or even the creation of a significant public dissemination of project’s activities may also be explored by the artist.
Resources available to the artist
INL has prior experience in hosting artists in residence and strongly acknowledges sound results arising from the multidisciplinary dialogue between arts, science and engineering. Being part of INL community gives the artist access an infrastructure of full-fledged nanotechnology laboratory enabling leading forefront research of highest international standard (Find out more at https://youtu.be/ZBGQ3fs5lnI). Artists will have access to a shared office space, accommodation at the INL guest house at the beginning of his/her stay, high speed internet connection, access to INL central labs and, most importantly, take part at the NANO2WATER multidisciplinary and highly international research team.