Bartlett Research Conversations: Hangchuan Wei

A hybrid Teams link is available – please contact Emmy Thittanond, g.thittanond@ucl.ac.uk, to request access to the link by midday, Tuesday 11 March 2025.

Probiotic Modelling: Developing Computational Design Intervention for the Indoor Microbiome

Speaker: Hangchuan Wei
UCL Supervisor: Prof Marjan Colletti & Dr Sean Nair (UCL Eastman Dental Institute) 

Abstract

The negative impact of contemporary built environments on human microbiome health has led researchers and designers to reconsider the way we shape our cities in relation to microbes. This has informed a shift from so-called antibiotic to probiotic thinking. Building on the probiotic theory, the research of probiotic modelling integrates knowledge from microbiome science, architecture, and digital technologies to address the emerging health challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and immunoregulation. It examines the material and immaterial aspects of subjects and develops computational methodologies for understanding, analyzing, and intervening the indoor microbiome.

About The Bartlett Research Conversations

The Bartlett School of Architecture’s Research Conversations seminars comprise work-in-progress and upgrade presentations by students undertaking the Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural and Urban History and Theory MPhil/PhD. All current UCL staff and students are welcome to attend.

Held regularly throughout the academic year, the seminars are attended by the Programme Directors, Professor Sophia Psarra, Dr Tania Sengupta and Dr Nina Vollenbröker; PhD Coordinators, Dr Stamatis Zografos and Dr Stelios Giamarelos; and other PhD supervisors.

Image: Figure 1. Environmental-driven tiling system informed by CFD simulation, Hangchuan Wei, 2024