At this summit, international experts and biohackers come together to share ideas and experiences about optimizing human performance, health and well-being. You will meet international experts as well as biohackers for discussions.
Van Boheeman recruits engaged citizens – often engineers, designers or artists without formal biology training – and assists them in performing experiments at home using affordable laboratory materials such as hormone extraction for DIY enhancement or photo bioreactors to grow algae.
1. What is Biohacking?
Biohacking is an experimental self-experimentation approach to improving health, performance and well-being. As an alternative to traditional healthcare that utilizes data and technology, biohackers use various tools to track their own health data in order to make informed decisions regarding diet, supplements, exercise routines and other lifestyle factors – potentially improving wellbeing while decreasing chronic disease risks and increasing lifespan.
Biohackers have long employed innovative techniques to boost brain health and cognition. Such practices may include diet modifications, meditation and mindfulness practices, reading or the use of nootropics such as Ashwagandha that are believed to increase focus, mental clarity, memory retention as well as reduce risk factors related to dementia or Parkinson’s.
Another effective biohacking technique involves using light therapy devices like an infrared sauna. This device exposes skin to red and near-infrared wavelengths that stimulate ATP production while encouraging regeneration of cells – this in turn promotes overall health, including cardiovascular and immune system health.
Biohacking has raised ethical and safety issues that raise serious concern. Since it often lacks formal oversight provided by scientific research conducted at universities or medical institutions, biohacking may result in untested interventions being administered without testing on human subjects as well as inadequate informed consent being granted by some biohackers who use genetic editing to alter themselves – a more dangerous form of self-experimentation (Seyfried et al. 2014).
Biohackers often find inspiration in personal experiences or the desire to improve their quality of life. One prominent biohacker, Bryan Johnson, uses data-driven methods to combat biological aging and maximize his own health and performance. His daily regimen entails sleep, exercise, nutrition and supplementation as well as using health enhancing devices like heart rate monitors and blood sugar trackers.
Biohacking has grown at an astounding pace over recent years and research supports many of its benefits. Yet the movement remains in its early stages and standards of practice must be developed; biohackers should collaborate with public health agencies in developing safer and more effective protocols to enhance human health and performance.
2. What is De Waag?
De Waag’s founders aim to use technology to improve our lives, seeing it as an avenue for unification and pushing the envelope. Since 1994, De Waag has been doing just this by using art, education, and social good as ingredients to bring forth new media forms.
In 2005, they created the mobile game Frequency 1550 to teach teenagers about 16th-century Amsterdam history. It proved an immense success and gained national media coverage; an academic study even determined it enhanced learning – further showing educational gaming’s usefulness in real-life settings.
Later, they created Waag Printer Club as the world’s first platform to allow anyone to build their own 3D printer (the first such initiative worldwide). And in 2009 they took another step toward open hardware by founding Fablab Amsterdam at Pakhuis de Zwijger together with Premsela (Dutch design foundation) and other FabLabs worldwide – offering public use by appointment of their open desktop manufacturing facility to create things.
De Waag stands as an iconic reminder of Amsterdam’s long and rich history, dating back to 1488 when it was originally constructed as a city gate and later part of Sint Antoniespoort’s medieval walls. Over time it became home to various guildhalls and fire brigades; among these was Surgeons Guild with their Theatrum Anatomicum where corpses were dissected for anatomy classes that inspired Rembrandt to paint his famous masterpiece ‘De anatomische lezing van Dr. Nicolaes Tulp’).
Since 1996, this historic building has been home to De Waag Society’s Institute for Art, Science and Technology; in addition to functioning as a cafe-restaurant on Nieuwmarkt square. Indeed, it stands as one of the city’s most exciting cultural spots and should not be missed!
3. What is Fablab Amsterdam?
Fablab Amsterdam is a makerspace (also known as digital fabrication lab), part of the global Fab Lab network. Situated within Amsterdam’s Waag monument, its primary goal is to enable invention by providing access to digital fabrication tools. Furthermore, collaborations exist among other FabLabs worldwide in order to share knowledge and technologies.
The fab lab movement is closely aligned with the DIY movement, open source hardware, and free and open source software. It aims to promote invention by equipping people with digital fabrication tools that can be programmed to address issues they face in their lives or work – and is close to both maker culture and hacker ethics.
The lab is managed by a team of professionals who share their knowledge with the general public through workshops, the Fab Academy program and impromptu fablab days – where people come in to use machines for research/projects – or by hosting events and hackathons. There is also an emphasis on diversity and community as well as international collaboration among other fablabs.
A Fablab typically contains an assortment of flexible computer-controlled tools capable of creating almost anything imaginable; such as prototypes of technology-enabled products usually limited to mass production as well as devices tailored specifically to local or personal needs not feasible using standard manufacturing technologies.
Cecilia Raspanti and Emma Pareschi, the directors of Fablab Amsterdam’s fablab management team, report that its services are most often utilized by professionals (artists, architects, designers, tinkerers and chemists), kids, students teachers and hobbyists. There are various formats designed to adapt FabLab specifically for certain groups such as the 8-week long FabSchool program for kids or the Teacher Maker Camp course designed to teach teachers how to bring the Fab Lab mindset to their classes).
The Fablab hosts open Fab Lab days every Tuesday and Thursday, when anyone can reserve time using equipment at no cost as long as they document their work and share it with the network of Fab Labs.
4. What is the Biohacker Summit?
The Biohacker Summit is an international event offering participants new ways to optimize their health, performance and well-being by harnessing cutting edge science & technology. The summit includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, immersive experiences and hands-on workshops led by industry leaders; it is also an excellent opportunity for networking among like-minded individuals passionate about scientific wellness and self-optimization.
The summit will cover topics spanning health, fitness, lifestyle hacking, self-experimentation, nutrition and more. Our aim is to equip attendees with practical and philosophical approaches that can help them become the best version of themselves.
Alongside the conference sessions, there will also be numerous other events and activities taking place throughout the weekend, such as workshops, yoga classes and a meditation lounge. Furthermore, food and beverage options will also be provided throughout.
Biohacking has quickly become a global trend in recent years and offers many health advantages both physical and psychological. Biohacking may help you lose weight, gain energy, feel relaxed and happy more often, improve focus and concentration skills, as well as help with stress relief. However, biohacking should always be approached carefully with caution – always consult a doctor first if starting something new!
The World Biohacker Summit 2024 will bring together global innovators in human performance optimization and wellness. It will showcase cutting-edge biohacking innovations in wearable tech, nootropics and cellular health – featuring experts on longevity, peak performance and recovery – making for an engaging event designed for people interested in scientific wellness.
Dave Asprey, widely considered to be “Father of Biohacking,” will join us at this event to share his journey in biohacking as he has used it to launch multiple billion-dollar companies. He will share his secrets and tactics for creating unstoppable businesses within one of today’s fastest-growing industries.
Biohacker Summit features live How-I-Built-This style founder interviews and interactive workshops, giving attendees the chance to learn from leading entrepreneurs and investors and take their businesses forward.
