Body Alchemy with Hugh Herr and Ana Rajčević

Biophysicist Hugh Herr and artist-research scientist Ana Rajčević join Pioneer Works Director of Sciences Janna Levin for a conversation at the edge of bionic engineering, neural interfacing, and regenerative medicine.

Herr builds highly responsive bionic limbs that fuse directly with human muscle and bone. Rajčević designs non-anthropomorphic robotic body extensions that look less like traditional prosthetics and more like evolutionary leaps. Together they treat the human form not as a fixed biological condition but as a malleable medium — asking what happens when the nervous system adapts to operate an anatomy it was never built to control.

The conversation follows presentations by both artists. Before and after, the Amateur Astronomers Association sets up stargazing in the garden (weather permitting). Food available for purchase. Seating first come, first served.