Mark Miodownik

Great discussion with Mark Miodownik on Radio 4 yesterday:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03xdmz8


 Miodownik is a "British materials scientist, engineer, broadcaster and writer at University College London" and has formed close ties with artists.  More about him on his Wikipedia entry.

Miodownik says:

• Making things is as important as other sorts of expression such as writing
• Materials address senses such as touch
• Public libraries ought to be turned into public workshops a.k.a. hack spaces

UPDATE:  I ended up exchanging emails with Miodownik.  He helped me find alternative materials to glass for my hospital project.  Didn't go down that route in the end but the dialogue led me on to a really interesting glass artist, Matt Durran, who makes glass moulds for growing replacement body parts.