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 \__,_|\___/|_|  |_|\_\_.__/ \___/ \__| |_.__/|_|  |_|___/\__\___/|_|   #27
           
             "people doing strange things with electricity" in Bristol
        

When:  18:00-20:30, Tue Mar 10 2026
Where: Pervasive Media Studio, Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX
       (directions below)

• Gerrit Niezen
  
  Growing Food with Electricity: Sustainable Protein Production with a Kitchen-Table Bioreactor
  Did you know that food can be grown using just electricity and carbon dioxide, on a fraction of the land traditional farming requires? By using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, which double in population every 5–10 hours, we’re developing an open-source bioreactor for protein production.
  We modified the Pioreactor, a Raspberry Pi-powered bioreactor, to generate hydrogen inside the bioreactor using renewable electricity. We add a small amount of nutrients and bubble through carbon dioxide to remove excess oxygen. We measure the growth rate of the bacteria, and use peristaltic pumps to remove the biomass. This could then be dried to create protein powder that can be used to make foods like pasta, ice cream and chocolate.
  The best thing about it all? We didn't need a big factory, just some open-source hardware and a kitchen table.
  
• Zak Madin
  
  Repair Cafes: Fighting Against Planned Obsolescence and the Hall of Fame/Infamy
  
  Once upon a time there were shops on the high street where it was cheaper and easier to get something fixed than it was to purchase a new item. That is not the case in the modern world, especially with intentional design choices and offerings from companies that rely on something breaking so you buy something else from them.
  Enter repair cafes! An international organisation and movement to combat items being junked when a fix is possible. Hear a potted explanation about how repair cafes work, some of our common issues, our best victories, our worst offenders, and a fall of fame of some of the best items or stories we've had in the cafe.

==== How to get to Pervasive Media Studio: ====

The Pervasive Media Studio is located in the Watershed building on
Bristol's Harbourside. The address is:

Pervasive Media Studio
Watershed
1 Canon's Road
Harbourside
Bristol
BS1 5TX

To access the Studio, please go to the Main Watershed Box Office entrance and go 
upstairs to the Café Bar. Walk across the cafe bar, turn right and walk towards 
the double doors. Go through into the corridor and walk all the way down until you 
reach the Studio. If the door to the studio is closed ring the bell and say you're 
here for dorkbot. The Studio is wheelchair accessible and there is an accessible
 and gender neutral toilet. There is also a baby change area.


Accessibility information