Can Engineering Life (EL) lead us into a better future? This question takes centre stage in EL & Us, Michel Comte’s art installation and public art-science project in collaboration with NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, a National Centre of Competence in Research funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Comte seeks to explore his vision of EL in the 21st century, its promise for contributing to social progress, and people’s hopes for it.