Vera Meyer (V. meer): Scientist, Artist & Fungi Visionary.
Vera Meyer, also known by her artistic pseudonym V. meer, is a remarkable figure at the intersection of science, art, and sustainability. She is a Professor of Applied and Molecular Microbiology at the Technical University of Berlin, where her research focuses on fungal biotechnology — exploring how fungi can contribute to bio-based materials, chemicals, and a regenerative circular economy.
Art as a Lens for Microbial Futures
As an artist, Meyer creates objects that merge microbial morphologies, natural artifacts, and industrial remnants, transforming them into contemplative works that explore the poetic and untapped potential of fungi. Her practice invites us to reconsider fungi not merely as production organisms but as collaborative partners in shaping sustainable futures.
The “Fungi” Trilogy – A transdisciplinary journey published by BerlinUp Books.
A central part of Meyer’s work is the open-access “Fungi” Trilogy, which documents her scientific and artistic engagement with the fungal kingdom. These volumes – available free of charge or as printed editions via BerlinUp Books – offer insight into the evolving connections between microbial research, material innovation, and artistic exploration.
1. Mind the Fungi (2020): Edited by Vera Meyer & Regine Rapp. The first volume documents the interdisciplinary project Mind the Fungi, where citizens, artists, designers, and scientists explored fungal forms together. Download PDF: BerlinUP Books (TU Berlin Open Access, DOI: 10.14279/depositonce-10350)
2. Engage with Fungi (2022): Edited by Vera Meyer & Sven Pfeiffer. The second volume explores how science, art, and civil society in Berlin collaborated on visionary fungal projects from 2020–2022. Download PDF: BerlinUP Books (Open Access, DOI: 10.14279/depositonce-15894)
3. Operate with Fungi (2024): Edited by Vera Meyer & Wolfgang Schäffner. The final volume of the trilogy highlights how active engagement with fungi transcends boundaries between science, art, and society, positioning fungi as integral to a sustainable bioeconomy. Download PDF: BerlinUP Books (Open Access, DOI: 10.14279/depositonce-21528)
A Collaborative Ecology of Knowledge
Emerging from a dynamic interplay of laboratory research, artistic inquiry, and a growing community of designers, bioengineers, and thinkers, the trilogy reflects nearly a decade of transdisciplinary collaboration. Each book evolved from Meyer’s network of colleagues and co-creators who share her fascination with the fungal world. Rather than functioning as conventional scientific publications, the volumes operate as hybrid knowledge spaces: part research compendium, part artistic field diary, and part manifesto for a bio-based future. They capture not only experimental results but also the shared processes, frictions, and insights that arise when science and art truly co-evolve. In this sense, the trilogy is less a set of books than an ongoing conversation about how humanity might learn from — and design with — fungi.
Why Vera Meyer & Her “Fungi” Trilogy Are Relevant for Anthrotopia:
– Regenerative Vision: Meyer shows how fungi are both biotechnologically useful and culturally and aesthetically significant.
– Interdisciplinary Approach: Her work combines science, art, architecture, and civil society — precisely the intersection Anthrotopia fosters.
– Open Access: All three publications are freely available, fitting perfectly with our Knowledge Hub’s mission to share forward-thinking ideas.
– Inspiration for Regenerative Futures: The trilogy offers concrete insights into how fungal mycelium and bio-based materials can play a role in architecture, urban planning, and design.
Header image: © USG, Unsplash.
Post images: © Vera Meyer
