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13. Implications and applications

Research & Concept 93% RAINFOREST + 7% TECH; Biomimicri of Frog Skin

FABRICADEMY FINAL PROJECT 19 dec by Reina Raveles

REFLECTING ON 13 WEEKS OF FABRICADEMY

Reflecting on the past weeks in FABRICADEMY: I’m so happy I did this! By no means did I succeed in every subject though.


What I loved

Although everything is interesting, the fun assignments for me are the biochromes, biomaterials, scaffolding especially growing christals, circular open source fashion and soft robotics. By no means did I finish everything but I do look forward to experimenting with these in the remaining months and after that in my own time: mycelium, fish skin, bio leathers all still on my to do list.


Challenged by Arduino

I am way behind on the electronics and Arduino assignments, I guess I had some mental blockages from programming in my student days my least fun subject. But over time I realize its become an essential professional skill, especially for engineers. So, I am working on it and getting through with the help of my Fabricademy mentor Nuria Robles and IoT Lab support group! Thank you for your patience everyone!


Still pending

In conceptualizing I have not used my digital fabrication skills as much as I thought I would and I did alot more crafting. This will also be something to work on in the course of the final project assignment using many of the online tutorials.


93% RAINFOREST + 7% TECH

About rainforest: I decided from the very start of FABRICADEMY to experiment with the unique environment I am fortunate to live in. The Amazon rainforest has been marked as a strategic alliance against climate change by the world due to its ecosystem, water and the carbon being stored in every tree you see. Suriname is pristine with 93% rainforest and this gives me direct access to a lot of materials, colors, forms and inspiration to feed my creativity. Having said this, the Amazon rainforest is also under immense pressure: natural resources like gold and diamonds, logging, hunting and mass agriculture all pose a treath to the ecosystem. Combine this with effects of climate change: extreme droughts and extreme rainfall and there is enough reason for concern.


So for my final project I am sticking with this theme. And I decided on starting a journey called: 93% RAINFOREST + 7% TECH The 7% TECH is the knowledge I received, and am still receiving and processing, through FABRICADEMY and the research we are challenged to do. I can apply this to and also gain inputs from the natural environment that surrounds me in a sustainable manner.


FUTURE SPIN-OFF

What do I envision with knowledge gained from FABRICADEMY in my future: There are several tracks possible:


  • Sharing the knowledge: Sharing the knowledge I gained during FABRICADEMY: a few months next year are already booked for giving training courses in 2 fab labs (IoTLab and ZapLab) and also currently negotiating with a 3rd party so I think there is a spin-off I’m experiencing with this knowledge. The requests I received are for STEM education with kids and youth and for bachelor students but my primary aim is to share knowledge with women entrepreneurs who make garments and local designers to help them innovate their craft. In order to have a direct impact on the local economy.


  • Business development through materials and product innovation: I also want to expand my own business beyond consultancy. I’m thinking about creative design in biomaterials with a rainforest theme. Still working on that one.


  • R&D: higher education and research. I’m looking into doing a PhD and FABRICADEMY has shown me different opportunities that I can pursue. Maybe doing research in Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in developing biomaterials including strategies on up-scaling business practices.


  • Creating awareness and contributing to sustainability: recycling, reuse and the circular economy in production cycles as well as creating economic value from NTFPs (Non Timber Forest Products) from the Amazon Rainforest are two important objectives in all these tracks.


Why, What, Who, When, Where?

What will you explore? why? for who? with whom? how and when? (See presentation)

References & Inspiration

References & Resources on Frogs and Nature:

Frogs (Amphibians) Document of Amazon Conservation Treaty ACT on amphibians in Suriname

References & Resources on (Bio) Fabrication:

Biochromes created from the amazon:

A company in Colombia creating natural colors and dyes from Amazon biomaterials. Award winning Invention of a stable blue biochrome

Fabricademy page Loes Bogers on Biomaterials and Making a sheet casting machine/tool Fabricademy page Loes Bogers on Biomaterials and Making a sheet casting machine/tool