The Backup Plan

Mél Hogan & co.
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  • Documentary

The Backup Plan is a podcast series that traces an emerging technology that promises to store infinitely more data at minimal environmental cost. It’s a technology as mysterious and miraculous as it is mundane; as molecular as it is massive. That technology is DNA. This podcast features conversations with scientists, scholars, industry specialists, archivists, and artists that explore the past, present, and future of data storage, its environmental impacts, and the science behind DNA-based data storage. We hear from companies that are on the forefront of developing this new technology and how they envisage the future of data infrastructures from storage to computing, and archivists who may use DNA-based data storage in the future. We also chat with an artist who creates alternative data imaginaries to critique the political, affective, and environmental dimensions of big tech. This project is part of Genomic Media, a research project funded by a Social Science and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant (2021-2026), led by Dr. Mél Hogan (PI) and Deb Verhoeven (co-I), in collaboration with scholars, scientists, industry specialists, archivists, and artists. We explore, explain, and expose DNA-based data storage by tracking and documenting the legacies of genetics/genomics sciences and their various applications, in parallel with the advent of computation, internet infrastructure, binary code and their discourses. Social Science and Humanities Research Council - Insight Grant “Genomic Media: Tracking Sociotechnical Imaginaries of DNA Data Storage” Full transcripts available here (PDF). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vghkdPHAQcCiDc5d3Pb_9-MCLfsva8Rd/view?usp=drive_link *** Mél Hogan Primary Investigator (SSHRC Insight Project Grant, 2021-26) Project Conception, Direction, Producer & Podcast Host Deb Verhoeven Co-Investigator (SSHRC Insight Project Grant) Co-Producer & Podcast Host Madeleine Mendell Project Collaborator & Podcast Co-Host Naomi Okabe Podcast Project Manager & Editor Brandon Hocura Sound Mastering Scott Gailey Sound Design Kyle Topping Podcast Cover Artwork Hollis A. Brown Researcher and Text Editor  Guests Steven M. Gonzalez Linda Tadic Jeff Nivala Siraj Nour ElAhmadi Dave Turek Stéphane Lemaire Richard Pon Madeleine Mendell Kyriaki Goni Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Jul 17

    Conclusion: Conversation with Mél Hogan, Deb Verhoeven, Madeleine Mendell

    CONCLUSION: Conversation with Mél Hogan, Deb Verhoeven, Madeleine Mendell The hosts reflect on the project and what it means to store data in perpetuity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Conclusion: Conversation with Mél Hogan, Deb Verhoeven, Madeleine Mendell

  2. Jul 17

    Growing a Data Garden with Kyriaki Goni (Artist)

    EPISODE 9: Growing a Data Garden with Kyriaki Goni (Artist) In this episode, we have a conversation with artist Kyriaki Goni, who imagines DNA-based data storage futures. Together we reflect on alternatives to current day big tech oligopolies. We recorded this conversation in September of 2023. *** A way of resisting (Athens Data Garden), 2020 (https://kyriakigoni.com/projects/data-garden) The Mountain Islands Shall Mourn us Eternally (Dolomites Data Garden), 2022 (https://kyriakigoni.com/projects/the-mountain-islands-shall-mourn-us-eternally) “Imagine storing all the world's archives in a box of seeds: As our appetite for data soars, Karin Ljubic Fister is pioneering a surprising storage facility with potential to grow” (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22930560-400-imagine-storing-all-the-worlds-archives-in-a-box-of-seeds/) “A French Teenager Turned the Bible and Quran into DNA and Injected Them into His Body” (https://www.livescience.com/64388-boy-encoded-and-injected-dna-bible-quran.html) “Massive Attack are releasing an album in a new format: DNA” https://www.wired.com/story/massive-attack-mezzanine-dna-album/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Growing a Data Garden with Kyriaki Goni (Artist)

  3. Jul 17

    DNA Aesthetics with Madeleine Mendell (Media Archivist)

    EPISODE 8: DNA Aesthetics with Madeleine Mendell (Media Archivist) In this episode, we chat with media archivist, Madeleine Mendell, about the deeper social narratives and aesthetic implications of using DNA as a storage medium. We recorded this conversation in September of 2023. *** “Harvard scientists pioneer storage of video inside DNA” (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jul/12/scientists-pioneer-a-new-revolution-in-biology-by-embeding-film-on-dna) “NFSA preserves Cathy Freeman's Olympic win on DNA” (https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/item/nfsa-preserves-cathy-freemans-olympic-win-dna) Arch Mission Foundation (https://www.archmission.org/) Joe Davis “Microvenus” (https://clotmag.com/biomedia/joe-davis) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    DNA Aesthetics with Madeleine Mendell (Media Archivist)

  4. Jul 17

    Becoming Genomic Media with Richard Pon (University of Calgary)

    EPISODE 7: Becoming Genomic Media with Richard Pon (University of Calgary) In this episode, we chat with Richard Pon, Former Director of the Centre for Health Genomics and Informatics at the University of Calgary. In 2018, he gave us a tour of the University Core DNA Services lab to get a close-up look at synthetic DNA creation.  *** University of Calgary Centre for Health Genomics and Informatics (https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/research/cat/health-genomics) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Becoming Genomic Media with Richard Pon (University of Calgary)

  5. Jul 17

    Bio-Sourcing & Decarbonizing Data Storage with Stéphane Lemaire (Biomemory)

    EPISODE 6: Bio-Sourcing & Decarbonizing Data Storage with Stéphane Lemaire (Biomemory) In this episode, we hear from Stephane Lemaire from Biomemory, a company developing biosourced DNA-based data storage technology. This conversation was recorded in January of 2024, prior to Biomemory’s acquisition of Catalog. *** Biomemory (https://www.biomemory.com/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Bio-Sourcing & Decarbonizing Data Storage with Stéphane Lemaire (Biomemory)

  6. Jul 17

    Like Any Other Polymer with Dave Turek (Catalog)

    EPISODE 5: Like Any Other Polymer with Dave Turek (Catalog) In this episode, we speak with Dave Turek from Catalog, a company at the forefront of DNA-based data storage and computation. We conducted this interview in October of 2022. Since then, Catalog has been acquired by Biomemory, whom we’ll hear from in the next episode. *** Catalog, now Biomemory (https://www.biomemory.com/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Like Any Other Polymer with Dave Turek (Catalog)

  7. Jul 17

    Data Storage in the Age of AI with Siraj Nour ElAhmadi (Atlas Data Storage)

    EPISODE 4: Data Storage in the Age of AI with Siraj Nour ElAhmadi (Atlas Data Storage) In this episode, we hear from Siraj Nour Elahmadi from Atlas Data Storage, who brings us up to speed with developments in DNA-based data storage technology and the current concerns related to artificial intelligence. This interview was recorded in June of 2026. *** Atlas Data Storage (https://www.atlasds.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Data Storage in the Age of AI with Siraj Nour ElAhmadi (Atlas Data Storage)

  8. Jul 17

    Encoding/Decoding with Jeff Nivala (University of Washington)

    EPISODE 3: Encoding/Decoding with Jeff Nivala (University of Washington) In this episode, Jeff Nivala, a researcher working in computing and biotechnology, explains the science behind DNA-based data storage. This conversation was recorded in September of 2023. *** “With a ‘hello,’ Microsoft and UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data storage” (https://www.washington.edu/news/2019/03/21/first-fully-automated-dna-data-storage/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Encoding/Decoding with Jeff Nivala (University of Washington)

  9. Jul 17

    (Data) Scraping the Earth with Linda Tadic (Digital Bedrock)

    EPISODE 2: (Data) Scraping the Earth with Linda Tadic (Digital Bedrock) In this episode, we speak with Linda Tadic, founder and CEO of Digital Bedrock. As an archivist, she explains the move from analog, to digital, to the current day promise of DNA-based data storage. We recorded this interview in September of 2023. *** Digital Bedrock (https://www.digitalbedrock.com/) DNA Data Storage Alliance (https://www.snia.org/groups/snia-dna-technology-affiliate) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    (Data) Scraping the Earth with Linda Tadic (Digital Bedrock)

  10. Jul 17

    Data Centre Drives to DNA with Steven Gonzalez (Goethe University)

    EPISODE 1: Data Centre Drives to DNA with Steven Gonzalez (Goethe University) In this episode, we hear from Steven Gonzalez, an ethnographer of data centres. He talks about the environmental costs of data storage infrastructure, and the potential DNA offers to the industry and the planet. We recorded this interview in September of 2023.  *** Data Garden project (https://cyrus.website/data-garden/) Grow Your Own Cloud (https://growyourown.cloud/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Data Centre Drives to DNA with Steven Gonzalez (Goethe University)

  11. Jul 17

    Introduction: The Backup Plan

    INTRODUCTION: The Backup Plan Welcome to The Backup Plan, a podcast series exploring the possibilities and problems associated with the use of DNA as a data storage medium. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Introduction: The Backup Plan
  • 11 Episodes

About

The Backup Plan is a podcast series that traces an emerging technology that promises to store infinitely more data at minimal environmental cost. It’s a technology as mysterious and miraculous as it is mundane; as molecular as it is massive. That technology is DNA. This podcast features conversations with scientists, scholars, industry specialists, archivists, and artists that explore the past, present, and future of data storage, its environmental impacts, and the science behind DNA-based data storage. We hear from companies that are on the forefront of developing this new technology and how they envisage the future of data infrastructures from storage to computing, and archivists who may use DNA-based data storage in the future. We also chat with an artist who creates alternative data imaginaries to critique the political, affective, and environmental dimensions of big tech. This project is part of Genomic Media, a research project funded by a Social Science and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant (2021-2026), led by Dr. Mél Hogan (PI) and Deb Verhoeven (co-I), in collaboration with scholars, scientists, industry specialists, archivists, and artists. We explore, explain, and expose DNA-based data storage by tracking and documenting the legacies of genetics/genomics sciences and their various applications, in parallel with the advent of computation, internet infrastructure, binary code and their discourses. Social Science and Humanities Research Council - Insight Grant “Genomic Media: Tracking Sociotechnical Imaginaries of DNA Data Storage” Full transcripts available here (PDF). https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vghkdPHAQcCiDc5d3Pb_9-MCLfsva8Rd/view?usp=drive_link *** Mél Hogan Primary Investigator (SSHRC Insight Project Grant, 2021-26) Project Conception, Direction, Producer & Podcast Host Deb Verhoeven Co-Investigator (SSHRC Insight Project Grant) Co-Producer & Podcast Host Madeleine Mendell Project Collaborator & Podcast Co-Host Naomi Okabe Podcast Project Manager & Editor Brandon Hocura Sound Mastering Scott Gailey Sound Design Kyle Topping Podcast Cover Artwork Hollis A. Brown Researcher and Text Editor  Guests Steven M. Gonzalez Linda Tadic Jeff Nivala Siraj Nour ElAhmadi Dave Turek Stéphane Lemaire Richard Pon Madeleine Mendell Kyriaki Goni Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Mél Hogan & co.
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mél Hogan
  • Show Website
    The Backup Plan