Cross Departmental Collaboration in the FabLab

FSU associate professor Dr. Martin Bauer stopped by the fablab to do some 3d scanning. Dr. Bauer’s research involved machine learning and mapping in infinite dimensional space. Check out more of his very fascinating work here: https://www.math.fsu.edu/~bauer/ 
Keep an eye out for a render of Martin in the fablab in his upcoming research, which will be presented/published soon.

Fablab manager Alex Adkinson also carries out research in the department of biological sciences dealing with 3d imaging and machine learning in collaboration with post-doc Dr. Barbara Costa, Dr. Austin Mast, and fellow former FSU MFA and fablab GA, Nicole James. James, Mast and Adkinson recently published a paper on 3d digital imaging for botanical specimen collections and can be read here: https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aps3.11550

Adkinson and James will be presenting new research on 3d imaging, machine learning, and new media in the biological sciences at the University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History and Yale at the Peabody Museum in the coming months as part of a workshop series on advances in digital media in the biological sciences in partnership with iDigbio, Yale, UF, Tulane, and Cornell.

Bioplastic Experiment

Layering bioplastic casts is a great way to achieve a thicker result. Here is a step-by-step of how we created a two-layer flower-embedded bioplastic:

 

Two Guar Gum bioplastics were mixed together to form the base layer of the material (golden beet dye, local flower petal dye), then we sprinkled dried butterfly pea flowers onto the wet bioplastic.
The Guar Gum bioplastic was dehydrated at 40°C for about two days.
Side One of First layer of Guar Gum bioplastic.
Side two of First layer of Guar Gum bioplastic.
Avocado Pit Dye Agar bioplastic cast with the first layer of dried Guar Gum bioplastic layered on top.
Side One of Guar Gum bioplastic and the Avocado Pit Dye Agar bioplastic after the second round of dehydration.
Side Two of Guar Gum bioplastic and the Avocado Pit Dye Agar bioplastic after the second round of dehydration.