Tools which track or monitor vitals, or help manage some bodily functions can often be expensive, use an unnecesary amount of resources, or are difficult to maintain or repair because they are proprietary. In this session, we will look into DIY methods of making such tools more accessible, demystify the way they work, make it easy to repair and source materials and keep track of data for personal use. We want to create documentation for such tools and maintain a network of people interested in these topics. Together with artist Pernilla Philip, we will learn from our varied experiences and get new insights into the world of DIY healthcare.

This session is organised by Yoana Buzova and Alice Strete.

Pernilla Manjula Philip explores questions around chronic illness in relation to the medical industry. Her work, rooted in lived experience, serves as a testbed for exploring vulnerabilities and strengths of the collective strengths of do-it-yourself (DIY) and open-source approaches to medical management. She aims to raise questions about who gets to shape medical knowledge, and the diverse perspectives on safety.

Date: Sunday, 18 May 2025
Start: 11:00h CET
Duration: +/- 3.5 hours with a small lunch break
Participation: Free (please register via: info@varia.zone) using [self-medicated practices] in the subject line.
Location: Varia, Gouwstraat 3 (3082 BA Rotterdam)

This project is supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL.