We extracted our DNA before breakfast today. Before brushing our teeth we swished around gatorade in our mouth and spit it into a test tube. After we added a drop of dishwashing soap. Lastly, we added rubbing alcohol to the test tube (about the same amount as the liquid that was already in there). Moments after, we could visibly see our DNA  being extracted and pulled up into the rubbing alcohol half of the test tube.

Today was our first sunny day in Sao Luis! We took advantage and spent the day outside. We went to a nearby stream and an environmental reserve to collect organisms, water, plants and rocks for our aquarium.

Our last activity consisted of making our own personalized terrarium. What an eventful day!

Before breakfast we went to the barn and extracted our DNA by swishing poweraid around in our mouths. After a minute we spit it back out into a test tube and added soap and alcohol to separate the DNA. Once the DNA was done separating after a few hours we pulled it out and place it on plates to view it under microscopes. That was exciting. It was also great to spend most of the day outdoors after being inside so much. We started our plant/freshwater based aquarium by collecting things down by a couple rivers. Right now the tank is very murky but once everything settles it will be a hit. With some of the extra findings from today’s adventure we made unique terrariums.

Day 3 of our Portugal trip was a lot better in terms of the weather. Most of the day was covered in sun with only a few spurts of rain showers here and there. We started our day by waking up and immediately going to the barn to extract DNA from our mouths. We swished some powerade in our mouths and then spit it out into a test tube where we poured a drop of detergent and ethanol on top, then let it sit. After a while our DNA strands started to float in the ethanol layer of the tube. Really cool to visibly see your own DNA.

The rest of the afternoon we spent walking around the block to visit a wooded stream where we collected a bunch of vegetation, rocks, and aquatic life for our giant terrarium in the barn.

We also drove to an environmental reserve/trail where we took a little hike to collect more ingredients and nature products. The trail was beautiful, but after the rain we had yesterday, the paths were covered in puddles so we had a lot of mud to trek through. Near the end, there were a lot of mountain-like rocks to climb and explore, which we all of course, traveled to the top to see the view.

After the hike my other two cohorts and I wanted to venture into town for some food. We ended up at the local café where we enjoyed a yummy warm ham and cheese “toastie,” a name that is common in Europe, and which I will be using in the future!

When we got back to the house, we physically took out our DNA strands and observed them under a microscope. It was interesting to see the parts of the DNA and the particles that go into them.

We then followed that experiment by working on the aquarium that Marta planned. We put in the soil, rocks, moss, aquatic plants, a few water spiders, and gallons of natural water. Hopefully, in a few days or weeks the sediment and mud in the water will settle at the bottom and they will be able to see clearly in the tank. We then built our own terrarium versions using found objects as containers and natural matter found in the gardens here. I’m rather proud of how mine came out!

We finished the day by eating a delicious dinner of roasted pork with chestnuts, spinach puree, chickpea mushroom salad, and roasted sweet potatoes. We also enjoyed a slice of sweet potato pie, which I’ve never had before, but it was very good! Tomorrow is our last full day here at the farm house and I’m looking forward to finishing up our final experiments!

As expected it rained for the majority of the day. Our task was to take bacteria from previous petri dishes or new bacteria of our own and plant them onto our new agar dishes. We also molded unique dishes out of clay that will also hold agar. When the dishes harded, we will add bacteria to those as well. Of course it takes time for the bacteria to spread but I think the results will be very interesting. After our lab tasks, we had the opportunity to listen to Alan speak about his work as a forest artist and Delila speak about the uncanny. Both presentations were interesting and thought provoking. Later on the artists from building 14 came over for dinner and Marta gave us a presentation on her work that focuses on identity. Her work is both conceptually and visually interesting since it combines art and science.

The rain definitely decided to pay a visit to Portugal today as it did not let up a single second all day. We got a little late start this morning, but we ventured into the dining room for a quick breakfast and then off to the barn for work.

We continued to work on our agar plates by adding different kinds of materials like substances and bacteria from other petri dishes that have accumulated here for months, our own spit, pieces of nature, and basically anything else we can find around that we thought we create an interesting reaction. Marta showed me that I could use my photography skills to photograph some of the specimen petri dishes and catch cool patterns and details under the microscope. We also each made a few molded clay dishes by creating different shapes, textures, and adding food coloring so that later they would be dry and hard enough where we could fill them with more agar concoctions.

In the afternoon we took a quick trip into the village to pick up some ingredients and a sweet custard-like treat that Portugal is famous for called pasteis de nata. We headed back to the house and had leftover stew for lunch. After digesting a bit, we went back into the barn to listen to two of the other resident artists give presentations on their own work and thought processes. The French resident, Alan Tod, told us about his transition into forest art and preserving nature by creating installations within nature itself. Dalila Horato, one of the Portuguese artists here, talked to us about her fascination with the body, body parts, and the modification of it, phobias and paraphilia, as well as concepts regarding monsters. Quite different topics, but both very interesting in regards to creating art work for conversations and discussions.

Later on in the evening we had some of the local artists in the neighborhood over for dinner as we enjoyed some homemade curried cod and cauliflower stew with rice and bread. We also enjoyed some roasted pears and a Limon cello trifle that was amazing! After talking with the other guests, Marta gave a lecture of her work to all of us, telling us that  her work involves combining art and science and questioning the role of what is natural, using technology in research, and playing around with bacteria combinations. Intense stuff, but quite creative.

First actually day in São Luís and what a day it was! We started our morning with homemade crepes and fresh strawberries made by one of the resident French artists, Allen, and then got ready to take a tour of the local area. Although this village is small, it’s filled with a lot of historical architecture, beautiful colors, and wide open farmlands. I had a blast turning from corner to corner and finding new things to take pictures of. Being a photographer, my eyes were constantly on the lookout for new things to explore. We even visited a few local artists who are working on their own projects in town. Everything from theatrical costumes on stilts and masks to anthropomorphic clay animals. It was exciting to see the variety!

When we returned back home, we made lunch from the leftovers we had the night before after hours on the plane and bus. Lunch consisted of a spicy pea stew with spicy chorizo sausage, blood sausage cooked over a ceramic dish, fresh bread, and sheep cheese that may be my new favorite cheese! We followed that up with some chocolate covered almonds, figs, and coffee. Our group continued the day by listening to Marta’s husband, Luis, give a presentation and lecture on the mechanisms of molecules and biological systems. So much knowledge and innovativeness in the science fields today.

After the lecture we dove right into experimenting with our agar creations. Earlier in the day we had made jars filled agar, Ludia Broth, and milk with agar and set them all aside to boil and sterilize. When ready, we took the liquid agar jars and mixed them with other materials, like soil, oxide, crushed bark, and food coloring, to be set aside and work their magic. The goal is to hopefully see changes with fungi and bacteria growth over the next few days so we can respond to how the environment affects various materials. I never really thought that science like this could be turned into artwork and actually be quite fun!

We ended our day with another homemade meal by our host, Marta, who cooked a spicy and flavorful sausage, cabbage, and kidney bean stew with some more fresh bread on the side, of course. Portuguese people really like their stews and soups in the winter! Marta also made a sweet roasted cinnamon apple for dessert, which was then accompanied by deep, thoughtful discussions about life, history, and the art world. Looking forward to what Day 2 has to offer!

Fortunate enough to spend the day in sun exploring the beautiful village of São Luis, however it was a lot colder than expected and the forecast for the rest of the week is rain! Here are some artsy captures

Follow along as our students explore the intersection of Art, Biology and the Environment in São Luís, Portugal. This is an interdisciplinary course that combines art and science. Students will acquire theoretical and practical skills in biological and environmental sciences in connection to the visual arts.

The intersection of Art, Biology and the Environment offer unique opportunities to visual artists. This innovative spring course, which is already on its fourth edition, will allow non-specialists to acquire theoretical and practical skills in biological and environmental science.

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