The Photosynthesizer is a musical interface integrated within an algae bioreactor. Inspired to create an instrument created from a living ecosystem, Nidhi Malhotra and I collaborated to build a symbiotic system that needs both algae and human interactions to thrive.

To activate optimal growing conditions, human gestures are required. Outfitted with photocell sensors and an arduino microcontroller, fluid human movements turn on growing lights and trigger synthesized sounds.

This whimsical approach to how we can integrate renewable energy into our everyday objects shows that the use of playful interactions can percolate biofuel incubation more readily into the lives of everyday people.

Parts + Technologies Used: Acrylic canisters, algae sampled and incubated from Prospect Park Lake (Brooklyn, NY), photocells, LEDs, Arduino, openFrameworks, Garageband