Intimate Implant art project wins Melanie Petersprijs 2024
The Rathenau Institute has awarded the Melanie Peters Prize 2024 to the developers of Intimate Implant. This winning project consists of interactive art objects that make you think about ethical questions surrounding new medical implants. The biannual Melanie Peters Prize is awarded to people who make an important contribution to the social dialogue on science, technology and innovation.
Intimate Implant
Intimate Implant is a co-production by artistic designer Bertrand Burgers and researchers Anne-Floor de Kanter and Manon van Daal, who both obtained their PhD in bioethics (UMC Utrecht). The trio believes that more attention should be paid to the emotional relationship between humans and technology.
The art project is a series of three interactive objects, inspired by so-called regenerative implants: medical implants that eventually break down and grow new, endogenous tissue.
Attention for bond between people and technology
‘The jury is very enthusiastic about the innovative, interdisciplinary and creative nature of this project,’ says jury chairman Daan Roovers. ‘The interactive objects stretch our imagination. More attention for the emotional bond between people and technology is valuable, for example for patients who receive an implant. In addition, the project can contribute to a broad social discussion about the increasing use of technology that strengthens human capabilities, human enhancement.’
Congratulations Manon, Anne-Floor and Bertrand!