JHU undergrads are invited to register for EN.580.158, a 2023 Intersession course that covers an under-explored area of public-health. It’s called Future Fashion Innovation and will discuss how new biomanufacturing techniques can be employed to make the fashion industry less environmentally destructive. With the fashion industry’s recent descent into the world’s second-most polluting industry (second only to the oil industry) it is critical that scientists, engineers, and public health advocates figure out new ways to manufacture clothing, such as through industrial scale production of proteins, starches, cells, and other polymers that can serve as new-age, biodegradable, and non-toxic raw materials for textiles.

This course will take a critical look at fashion’s negative impact on the environment and public health. There will be guest speakers from the textile industry, a class field trip to learn about the history of textile innovation, and a fun idea pitch contest that is sure to make use of everyone’s creativity. Overall, Future Fashion Innovation will have a light workload, plenty of discussion, and assignments that are focused on learning and applying your technical skills to developing much-needed climate-tech solutions.

Registration for Intersession is open, so you can sign up now! Please reach out with any questions at the emails below.

Lauren Blake | [email protected] | Molecular Biophysics 

Alexis Peña | [email protected] | Biomedical Engineering