Zoe Laughlin

Zoe Laughlin
Alma mater

King's College London

Central Saint Martins
Organization

Institute of Making

University College London
Known for

Making, Art

Materials Science and Engineering
Website http://zoelaughlin.com/

Zoe Laughlin is a British artist, maker and materials expert. She is the co-founder and Director of the Institute of Making at University College London. She is a regular panelist on the BBC Radio 4 show The Kitchen Cabinet.

Education

Laughlin took A-Levels in Art, Textiles and English Literature.[1] and completed a Masters of Art at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design. She earned a PhD in Material Science in the Department of Engineering at King's College London in 2010.[2]

Research

During her PhD, Laughlin discovered how materials affects the taste of food, and how to predict the taste of food using electrode potential.[3][4] Her thesis, "Beyond the Swatch: How can the Science of Materials be Represented by the Materials Themselves in a Materials Library?", became the basis for the methodological approaches of the Institute of Making and some of its research.[5][6] The experiments Laughlin undertook were designed to identify the links between the physical properties of materials and our aesthetic perception of materiality.[7] As a result, she has been key to the development of the concept of Sensoaesthetics, which is the "application of scientific methodology to the aesthetic, sensual and emotional side" of materials.[8]

Career

In 2010/11, Mark Miodownik, Martin Conreen and Laughlin began working on the Institute of Making, which they planned to open in the east wing of Somerset House.[9] In February 2012, they joined University College London, and launched "A Taste of Materials" in April 2012.[10] She published "Material Matters: New Materials in Design" with Black Dog Publishing.[11] Their Materials Library and Make Space opened in Malet Place on 14 March 2013.[12][13][14]

Laughlin has created work and done projects with partners and galleries including Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Wellcome Collection.[15][16][17] In 2016 her spoons became part of the new permanent collection of London's Design Museum and are on display in the Designer Maker User gallery.[18]

Laughlin is interested in the sound of and taste of materials, as well as what she terms "the performativity of matter".[19] She regularly speaks about materials and performs demonstration lectures.[20][21] In 2012 she delivered a TEDx talk in Brussels on "The Performativity of Matter".[22][23]

She is a trustee of the Crafts Council, and works with them to integrate new materials and making methods into the crafts sector.[24][25]

Broadcasting

Laughlin was the resident scientist on ITV's long running series This Morning, hosting the regular feature "Wonderstuff".[26][27] On the show, Laughlin conducted many spectacular demonstrations including smelting copper and turning milk to plastic.[28][29][30] She hosts the podcast "The Things that Make Us".[31][32] She appears regularly on British radio and television, and gives invited talks on material science in Britain and around the world.[33][34][35] She has appeared on the Today Programme and "The Material Word" with Quentin Cooper.[36][37][38] In 2016, Laughlin delivered an invited talk at The Royal Institution, "Performing Matter: Greatest Hits and New Findings".[39]

In 2017 she joined Lucy Worsley for a 90 minute BBC Four programme exploring the history of fireworks, “Fizz Bang Wallop - A Tudor Firework Spectacular“.[40] The show, “Fireworks for a Tudor Queen”, was broadcast in March 2018.

The Kitchen Cabinet

Laughlin was asked on to The Kitchen Cabinet as a guest in 2015 and has since become their resident materials expert.[41] The May 2016 episode, from Sandwich, Kent, was recorded in Laughlin's old school hall.[42]

Big Life Fix

Laughlin was a maker on the BBC Two television programme, "Big Life Fix".[43][44][45] In the show, a team of designers and inventors created solutions, often as simple as repurposing everyday objects, to change people's lives.[46][47] On the show, Laughlin designed a stylish, lightweight, durable foam helmet for a child who suffers from hydrocephalus.[48] Laughlin described the experience as "a great show to be part of".[49]

The Secret Life of Landfill

In 2018 Laughlin and George McGavin made a BBC Four documentary "The Secret Life of Landfill: A Rubbish History", exploring the fate and future of rubbish deposited in landfill sites.[50][51]

References

  1. ↑ Bryan, Stephanie. "Science talk on 'Performing Matter' engages girls". www.stmaryscalne.org. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  2. ↑ "Zoe Laughlin - Research Portal, King's College, London". kclpure.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  3. ↑ "The use of standard electrode potentials to predict the taste of solid metals". Food Quality and Preference. 22 (7): 628–637. 2011-10-01. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2011.03.012. ISSN 0950-3293.
  4. ↑ "Redirecting". linkinghub.elsevier.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  5. ↑ "Sensoaesthetic Materials - Research". Institute of Making. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  6. ↑ "UCL Institute of Making's cabinet of curiosities". Times Higher Education (THE). 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  7. ↑ Karana, Elvin,, Pedgley, Owain,, Rognoli, Valentina,. Materials experience: fundamentals of materials and design. Oxford. ISBN 0080993761. OCLC 862961523.
  8. ↑ "Sensoaesthetic materials".
  9. ↑ "Materials engineer Mark Miodownik - The Engineer". www.theengineer.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  10. ↑ "A Taste of Materials - UCL Engineering". www.engineering.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  11. ↑ 1985-, Howes, Philip, (2012). Material matters : new materials in design. Laughlin, Zoe, 1981-. London: Black Dog Pub. ISBN 9781907317736. OCLC 744288230.
  12. ↑ "First Year Report: Institute of Making" (PDF). UCL. 2014. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  13. ↑ "Materials - Materials Library". Institute of Making. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  14. ↑ "open movement°". open movement°. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  15. ↑ "The Stuff of Memory: Symposium". 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  16. ↑ "Launch: Playing Up – Live Art for adults and kids – Special Event at Tate Modern | Tate". Tate. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  17. ↑ "The Essence of Flourescence at the Hayward Gallery". Institute of Making. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  18. ↑ "Designer Maker User". Design Museum. Fabrique & Q42. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Zoe Laughlin - RSA". www.thersa.org. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  20. ↑ "RSA Makers Summit 2015 - RSA". www.thersa.org. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  21. ↑ "Making Matters - RSA". www.thersa.org. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  22. ↑ TEDx Talks (2012-11-14), The Performativity of Matter: Zoe Laughlin at TEDxBrussels, retrieved 2018-02-22
  23. ↑ "The Big Bang Event". ZN Consulting. 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  24. ↑ "Session 1: Materials - Crafts Council". www.craftscouncil.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  25. ↑ "Zoe Laughlin: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  26. ↑ "Dr Zoe Laughlin". Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  27. ↑ "Ketchup with Wonderstuff". Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  28. ↑ "Wonderstuff finds fun in everyday objects". Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  29. ↑ "Wonderstuff makes magic metal". Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  30. ↑ "Thanks to today's Wonderstuff team!". Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  31. ↑ "The Things That Make Us by Zoe Laughlin". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  32. ↑ "Podcast". The Things That Make Us. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  33. ↑ "Fourth Annual Alumni Dinner". www.cs.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  34. ↑ "Rachel Pimm in conversation with Zoe Laughlin". Jerwood Visual Arts. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  35. ↑ brunswick (2012-08-28). "Zoe Laughlin: The Performativity of Matter". Science Gallery. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  36. ↑ "BBC - Radio 4 - The Material World 05/04/2007". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  37. ↑ "BBC - Radio 4 - The Material World 2/3/2006". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  38. ↑ "Can the metal from a spoon affect your taste?, 29/01/2015, Today - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  39. ↑ "Performing matter: Greatest hits and new findings". Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  40. ↑ "BBC - BBC Four - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  41. ↑ "The Kitchen Cabinet". Zoe Laughlin. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  42. ↑ "Sandwich, Series 13, The Kitchen Cabinet - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  43. ↑ "CCHQ Weekly Round-up, 2 December 2016 - Crafts Council". www.craftscouncil.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  44. ↑ "Simon Reeve: 'The Big Life Fix will help thousands of people!'". What' s on TV. 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  45. ↑ "Series 1, The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve - Zoe Laughlin - BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  46. ↑ "Using science to change lives: 'The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve'". theboar.org. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  47. ↑ "The Big Life Fix". Zoe Laughlin. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  48. ↑ "Shine member Rosie receives the best Christmas present…". www.shinecharity.org.uk | Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, Information, Networking, Equality. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  49. ↑ "Making Space". www.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  50. ↑ Walton, James (25 August 2018). "I had no idea how fascinating rubbish could be: The Secret Life of Landfill reviewed". The Spectator. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  51. ↑ "The Secret Life of Landfill: A Rubbish History". BBC Four. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
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