Adopting the form of a video game trailer, Immunecraft presents a fictional game which gives users agency over a real life cell culture to compete against opponent players. It explores the parallels between popular gameplay mechanics and some of the most important principles of the human immune system, including cellular memory and autoimmunity.
It understands itself as a piece of speculative design futures, commenting on the principles of multiplayer online gaming in the age of DNA building blocks, printable organic electronics and biohacking, thus raising questions about bioethics.
Eric Schockmel
Eric Schockmel is a London-based moving image artist and director from Luxembourg. His work spans a personal practice and commissions, as well as freelancing in the creative industries. He creates expressive artworks for digital and physical environments, including installations, screenings, projections, prints, desktop, mobile and TV screens, exploring themes at the intersection of art, science and technology. In 2015 he began directing an animated documentary about the origins of science fiction.
Eric has an MA in Communication Design from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.
Dr Megan MacLeod
Dr Megan MacLeod graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2001 with a first class honours in Immunology and received her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 2005. Her research took her to Denver, USA where she worked with Philippa Marrack and John Kappler, two of the world’s leading immunologists. She is currently working at the University of Glasgow, funded by Arthritis Research UK to examine the immune cells that are central regulators in autoimmune disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Her research aims to improve our understanding of how the immune cells, CD4 T cells, regulate immune responses in infection and autoimmunity.
INTERVIEWS
Hear from the artist and scientist about their collaboration, their individual interests, and the science behind the collaboration.
SCIENCE GUIDE
Find out more about the science behind the collaboration, with glossary terms, activity sheets and information about the research that inspires the film.