Our computers and smartphones would not operate without the materials science that developed silicon-based integrated circuits. One way or another, chemistry underlies just about everything we do. The roots of chemistry stretch back to people’s early attempts to understand and manipulate the materials around them through the study and practice of alchemy.

Today we tend to be a step removed from the materials that make up the finished products we use. Patricia Miranda of Alchemical Tech wants to put you back in touch with the way natural materials are turned into the tools we use to create art and technology.

Patricia will be at World Maker Faire in New York later this month showing people how to turn materials like stones, bugs and flowers into colorful pigments. She will have lots of natural materials on hand to show the sources of colors. Visitors can use the paint that is made from these colors to create their own art while gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them. Come experience a bit of the science people have used through the centuries to add color to our world.

You can learn more about Patricia’s work at her website, or visit her Facebook page.