Computational Crochet Corals
How cool is it that we can model nature with math?!
During my internship with the ecological design non-profit TerreformONE, where I was supervised by Dr. Mitchell Joachim, I was introduced to this concept of computational design and fell in love. I couldn’t believe you could use math to model 3D objects. Because I was fond of 3D printers and fabrication in general I became addicted. I have been on a path of understanding the ways in which we can use computational design to solve ecological conservation issues as climate changes becomes an evermore pressing issue.
This summer I got the opportunity to conduct some weird interdisciplinary research on algorithms. Specifically, I was interested in differential growth algorithms and how it could intersect with environmental conservation.
I wrote updates throughout the summer which can be found on the buttons to the right.
Community Science and Public Outreach Intern at Billion Oyster Project (BOP)
⠀⠀⠀⡠⠂⠀⠀⠩⠤⠕⢄⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢀⡩⡂⠁⠙⡉⢕⣀⠁⣅⠄⠀⠀
⠀⢀⠊⡑⠈⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠪⢀⡲⡄⠀
⠀⡤⠕⡀⠄⠊⠀⠈⠐⢄⠀⡌⠧⠄⠀
⠀⢛⣰⠀⠀⡀⠤⠤⡀⠀⢀⠀⠀⡇⠀
⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡀⠀⠘⠘⠁⠀
⠀⠀⠣⠃⠀⠄⠒⠂⡀⠈⢂⠠⠸⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠲⢤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠂⠀⡅⠸⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠇⢄⠊⠁⠈⢂⠈⡄⡯⠂⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣔⠁⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠐⠐⠀⣀⠀⠀⣡⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⡈⠀⠀⠐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
At the end of the semester I had the opportunity to present my research to all of BOP’s staff. The link to the slide deck is below.
During my internship at BOP I got to help out with a variety of projects and learned so much about environmental non-profit work. During my internship I began to look at my research from a more practical perspective. I began to see my project as a way for people to become interested in computing and conservation. During my internship I:
helped record data on oyster monitoring stations and got to witness the surprising amount of biodiversity in the harbor.
recorded data on wild oysters at Powell’s Cove.
helped table public events to teach the public about biodiversity and oyster restoration.
gave tours to the public about efforts of BOP on Governor’s Island
completed more of my research project and applied it to NYC’s specific needs for restoration and conservation.
Image Description: Bella at Powell’s Cove holding calipers and a wild oyster