BioDesign Studio

Explore unique and powerful fundamentals of biological systems with vivid displays. Put yourself in the shoes of a single cell or re-code the "fur" patterns of our adorable animals.

You are the scientist in this 21st-century version of our well-loved jellyfish DNA wet lab. Use real lab gear to engineer multi-colored bacteria. Discover and add your own living colors to the wall!

Explore real-life innovations in biology — such as efforts to engineer mosquitoes to stop the spread of disease. Share your own vision of a future use for synthetic biology. Let your imagination run wild!

Use our kit of tangible biological parts to build and program your own virtual creature! Then release it into an immersive world and watch it interact with other creations made by visitors like you.

In this evolving workspace, you can try innovative biodesign activities, participate in community projects and explore new biotechnology. Use real lab tools, create objects with living things, see bioengineered organisms and more.

Drop-In Activities

These offerings are free with admission and first come, first served. Dates and times may vary. 

Coming Soon - Algae String: Design and create colorful string using biological building blocks from ocean kelp and a dash of chemistry. Kelp is a type of large algae that contains long molecule chains, or polymers. The plastics that we use everyday are also made from polymers, but currently most of them are produced in a lab and not environmentally friendly. Algae polymers, however, are biodegradable, so could be a sustainable fiber of the future! Choose and mix ingredients to modify string properties and explore using chemistry to control the shape of it.

ChromoZONE: Explore the exciting world of genetics by doing experiments and activities with scientists from Stanford University. Ages 6+

Most Saturdays 12-2 and 2:30-4:30, selected weekdays from 10-12. Activities last 15-20 minutes and are first come, first served.