Engineering
I lead the Data Systems and Intelligence group at Ecovative where my team supports the development of both mycelium-based bacon for MyForestFoods and textile products for Forager.
This section includes a selection of hardware, software and engineering projects from 2007-2025.
Selected Publications:
Telhan, Orkan. Bioreactors as Additive Manufacturing Environments. 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1089/3dp.2024.0023
Telhan, Orkan, and Karen Hogan. Portable bioreactors and portable bioreactor systems for analyzing biofilm formation and degradation. U.S. Patent Application No. 17/284,415.
Hogan, Michael, Orkan M. Telhan, and Karen Hogan. System, method, and device for high-throughput, automated culturing of genetically modified organisms. U.S. Patent No. 10,954,483. 23 Mar. 2021.
Telhan, Orkan. Materials with computational experience and style.Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, Volume 15, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-010-0314-
Biodesign
I serve as President of the Biodesign Challenge, where I actively promote creative and critical engagements with biology across design disciplines.
Selected Publications:
Telhan, Orkan. Interrogative Design with More-than-Humans. Ian Wojtowicz (ed), Interrogative Design. MIT Press, 2024.
Volpe, John P., et al. Bionovelty and ecological restoration. Restoration Ecology (2024): e14152. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14152
Telhan, Orkan. What Biodesign Means to Me. Biodesigned: Issue 1, 6 May, 2020. Accessed [October, 13, 2024].
Kafai, Y., Hogan, K., Telhan, O., & Walker, J. (2023). Learn.Design.Bio.K12: A workshop report on connecting computing and biodesign in K-12 education. Cambridge Open Engage. doi:10.33774/coe-2023-xztxw
Art
My work explores critical questions at the intersection of culture, environment, and social responsibility.
Selected Exhibitions
Covering Earth at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, Türkiye Pavilion (May 10 – November 23, 2025)
Reservoirs of Venice at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennial, The Arsenale (May 10 – November 23, 2025)
Salivations as part of the “We the bacteria” exhibition, Triennale di Milano (May 13 – November 9, 2025)
Still Remains. Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid (October 25 – December 16, 2023)