SCHEDULE

Join us today for the Material Variance Symposium organized by **Lola Ben-Alon**, Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP, with the Natural Materials Lab. The event will feature a keynote lecture at 6:00 pm by **Ronald Rael ’98 M.Arch** (UC Berkeley) titled “Salt y Glue and Mud y Robots,” as well as conversations among material design researchers, building scientists, and artists to discuss the reciprocal impacts of species and form, and the defiance against refinement, exploitation, and technocratic establishments. Speakers include: **David Benjamin ’05 MArch**, **Mae-ling Lokko**, **Adam Marcus ’05 MArch**, **Leslie Lok**, **Sasha Fishman**, **Olga Beatrice Carcassi**, **Jonsara Ruth**, **Felecia Davis**, **Ethan Bourdeau**, **Lucy Raven**, **Jorge Otero-Pailos**, **Sarah Graff**, **Mitch McEwen ’06 MArch**, and **Ruth Morrow**. Natural materials are highly variable. This conference aims to explore: How does this inherent variability influence the magic of alchemical reactions, the properties of binding agents and mix designs, supply chains, labor practices, trade routes, and the preconceptions of standards and codes? What are the transformative, political (and often, messy) processes evoked by using materials that are non-engineered and raw? This conference is free and open to the public. Please note that the event will be held in person at Avery Hall and will not be live-streamed. **Visit the [event page on the GSAPP website](https://www.arch.columbia.edu/events/3099-material-variance) to view more information and the full schedule.**

Material Variance Symposium
Today, September 19, 9:30am–7:30pm
Avery Hall (Wood Auditorium, 400 Level, Rm. 114)

Join us today for the Material Variance Symposium organized by Lola Ben-Alon, Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP, with the Natural Materials Lab.

The event will feature a keynote lecture at 6:00 pm by Ronald Rael ’98 M.Arch (UC Berkeley) titled “Salt y Glue and Mud y Robots,” as well as conversations among material design researchers, building scientists, and artists to discuss the reciprocal impacts of species and form, and the defiance against refinement, exploitation, and technocratic establishments. Speakers include: David Benjamin ’05 MArch, Mae-ling Lokko, Adam Marcus ’05 MArch, Leslie Lok, Sasha Fishman, Olga Beatrice Carcassi, Jonsara Ruth, Felecia Davis, Ethan Bourdeau, Lucy Raven, Jorge Otero-Pailos, Sarah Graff, Mitch McEwen ’06 MArch, and Ruth Morrow.

Natural materials are highly variable. This conference aims to explore: How does this inherent variability influence the magic of alchemical reactions, the properties of binding agents and mix designs, supply chains, labor practices, trade routes, and the preconceptions of standards and codes? What are the transformative, political (and often, messy) processes evoked by using materials that are non-engineered and raw?

This conference is free and open to the public. Please note that the event will be held in person at Avery Hall and will not be live-streamed.

**Visit the [event page on the GSAPP website](https://www.arch.columbia.edu/events/3099-material-variance) to view more information and the full schedule.**