Address
1230 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065
The Laboratory of Morphogenesis is located in New York City on the campus of Rockefeller University.
Leadership
The Laboratory of Morphogenesis was co-founded and is co-led by Amy Shyer and Alan Rodrigues.
When creating the lab, Amy and Alan brought their experience in tissue scale mechanics and cell/subcellular biology, respectively, to understand the organizing role of cellular collectives in development and disease.
Their goal is to develop a scientific approach and understanding that does not reduce life science to applied genetics or biochemistry.
They seek to understand aspects of living systems (e.g. self-organization of form) still poorly understood by 20th century ontologies and technologies.
Approach and Values
Humanity in the age of the machine: Our method is oriented around the rigorous use of human imagination.
Phenomenology first: We begin our investigations with holistic observations of the system at hand.
Concepts over technocracy: Conceptual thinking frames our understanding of which tools we use and develop.
A poetic posture: We value the sensitive, open-minded discernment developed through artistic practices.
Physics through a feeling for the organism: Our biophysical theories are the intuitive fruit of hands on experience with living systems.
Examples of our Influences
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World – Iain McGilchrist (2012)
The Ontogeny of Information: Developmental Systems and Evolution – Susan Oyama (1985)
Crystals, Fabrics and Fields: Metaphors of Organicism in 20th Century Biology – Donna Haraway (1976)
The Science of Life: The Living System – A System for Living – Paul Weiss (1973)
Order and Life – Joseph Needham (1936)