MIT Self-Assembly Lab
I performed research for the MIT Self-Assembly Lab in the summer of 2023 and will continue in the fall. My primary projects were Growing Islands in the Maldives and Thermo-reactive Shading.
Active Shading:
I researched a thermo-reactive material that curls/flattens when exposed to heat. I streamlined and documented computative patterns and the process of laser cutting the material with adhesive application. The goal is to use this material to create active shading that activates when it is sunny and hot outside. This fall, I will try to scale up the designs computatively and apply them to windows on campus.
Maldives:
The lab is working to integrate underwater structures into the Maldives that harness wave patterns and strategic sand accumulation to combat sea level rise. Over the summer, I raised coral to integrate marine life with these structures, and researched shell concrete compositions/casting. I created a comprehensive guide on raising the coral, and an interactive spreadsheet that will tell you how healthy tank levels are through a coded-in color key. I will continue raising the coral over the fall and contributing to further research on the Maldives.
This page will continue to be updated during the fall with project progress.