As a Human Biology TA, I developed a universal smartphone-microscope adapter that is adjustable in 3 axes, accommodates all phones/tablets, and can be laser cut from a cardboard box.
One of my first projects using a laser cutter, the goal was to create a low-cost, easily manufactured learning tool to help students connect with the fascinating worlds on the other end of their microscopes.
Non-major students in particular can be intimidated by these foreign, scientific looking instruments. My aim was to facilitate a more engaging experience by interfacing with a familiar technology and enabling them to record what they observed via their own devices.
I thought this would provide a more personal connection and encourage them to take ownership of their learning.
Thankfully introduction into the lab was well received - and within minutes students were having fun posting their microscopic explorations online!
What began as a small personal project became a full-fledged exploration of layered fabrication. The goal – to reverse engineer a template and reconstruct the model from the reference video below.
I began by analyzing geometry in screen stills then experimented with dimensions and multi-layer constructions based on the methods section of the publication the video accompanies (“Rational design of reconfigurable prismatic architected materials” https://doi.org/10.1038/nature20824).
Next I created the layered templates for each component shown here, color-coded for the three laser cutting sequences required.
Once cut, the pieces were fit together in a multi-dimensional puzzle - ultimately yielding a working replica!
full video - https://youtu.be/7A_jPky3jRY
screen still used to derive geometry for laser cutting template
Laser cutter template for a single module, color-coded by layer. Black is an overlay of all three.
First cut for a single module
Three-layer template of all 100 pieces required for a full, eight-module replica seen in video.
In the spring of 2018, I developed a course examining how origami is inspiring engineering + design around the world as a proposal for a summer learning program in Japan called HLAB. This was a period of intense research as I familiarized myself with the latest developments and institutions pursuing relevant work. Once the seminar was accepted, I also began adapting designs from research publications into templates I could perforate with a laser cutter and give to the students. It was important to me that the sometimes abstract world of technical origami be explained in a tangible way, and the perforated designs allowed students to still fold their own models, but bypassed hours of manual measurements and scoring.
As the name suggests, we covered a range of topics and activities – from examples in architecture and biology to aerospace engineering (deployable solar array model featured in photos) and finished with assembling Foldscopes (origami inspired, low cost paper microscopes) that each student brought home.
めっちゃ楽しかった！
It’s an honor to work alongside passionate people from around the world as part of the core organizing team for the Global Community Bio Summit hosted by MIT Media Lab.
Our goal is to provide a space for the global community of DIY biologists / community biologists / biohackers / biomakers and members of independent and community laboratories to convene, plan, build fellowship, and continue the evolution of our movement.
In Summer 2019, I worked as instructor for a STEM Education program focusing on 3D modeling and printing. In addition to empowering others, teaching is a great way to solidify your understanding of a subject. By articulating concepts, techniques and nuances, I’ve also honed my own skills from multiple angles.
Whether it’s modeling and sculpting in CAD programs, finessing printing profiles, or troubleshooting hardware, I’m continually improving my expertise throughout the digital fabrication process.
Opencube is a modular furniture set I designed and manufactured through the 2018 Sculptural Object of Furniture Art (SOFA) residency program at the University of Minnesota’s Art Department. The table and two chairs fit together into a cube to save space when not in use.
The piece was also designed to subtly foster social interaction as the cube requires two people to open - an act in which the users become the performers.
The process from proposal to presentation entailed a range of skills from budgeting and modeling to prototyping, laser cutting, and CNC routing.
elefanta was a collaboration for the 2018 Art of Recycling contest at the University of Minnesota. Once my collaborator and I agreed on our design, we scoured campus recycling bins for used cans, then washed and trimmed them into sheets. These were further shaped into pepakura-style pieces for ultimate assembly into a Fanta-sipping elephant. 1st Prize Winner.
Stemming from my origami-inspired design seminar in Japan, I was sponsored to fly to Tokyo in November 2018 to attend leadership programming at the Annual conference of the US-Japan Council. I am currently a member of the TOMODACHI Generation program.
The Council is a joint initiative between the US and Japanese embassies in addition to other organizations and seeks to “cultivate an international network of leaders, and collaborates with other organizations and institutions to develop programs that allow leaders to engage with their counterparts in the United States and Japan”
