Medallion: 3D-printed Wall Plaques based on Procedural Modeling

“Medallion” is a series of 3D-printed wall plaques featuring ornate shapes generated procedurally. The main purpose of this project is to sublimate a traditional beauty found in decorative ornaments into a modern algorithmic art by using a combination of procedural approach in Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) and 3D-printing technology which has been growing rapidly. Each medallion was generated by using metaballs which are a kind of modeling method in CGI. A drawing algorithm for metaballs was modified and optimized for generating ornate relief-like objects in this project. Also, regular-polygonal shapes were used for the process of density calculation in drawing metaballs. Generated patterns were converted into 3D models, and the models were 3D-printed finally. The resultant artworks have been displayed at several art exhibitions; some of them was intended to display traditional art forms such as paintings and sculptures

A novel web-based public outreach tool for promoting the critical role of fundamental research in human health: Incorporating scrolling triggered video playback into the user experience

Fundamental research has played a significant role in human health and its impact continues to grow. As researchers probe deeper into cellular and molecular mechanisms of complex diseases like cancers, fundamental research has evolved into highly specialized subfields. These developments in research, however, have moved knowledge and understanding even further from the grasp of the general public. Meanwhile, not enough is done to effectively explain to the public why scientists do what they do. The subsequent communication breakdown between the science community and the public may cause decreased research funding, lack of interest in pursuing careers in science, and a growing ignorance on the part of the public regarding the value of fundamental science. This thesis seeks to bridge this communication gap by developing a public outreach program to clearly explain the principles of fundamental research and address its importance in improving human health. This thesis explores the effectiveness of making a public outreach program engaging and effective by employing a combination of visual representations, including 3D models, animations, 2D motion graphics, user interface and experience designs. The final product will be presented on an interactive video website using a recently developed JavaScript coded technique called “Scrolling Triggered Video Playback”. This technique allows viewers to play and playback the videos by scrolling up and down based on their reading pace. Content of the word story and art assets is based on research projects carried out in the lab of Douglas Robinson in the department of Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The Robinson Lab studies cell mechanics, including mechanoresponsive behavior of cells, and applies the concepts they observe to developing novel therapeutics for complex diseases, including cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Expected benefit of this public outreach program is to effectively communicate the value and importance of fundamental research to the public. The goal of the program is to assist viewers in understanding the general concepts behind fundamental research by using current topics from the Robinson lab as examples, and in doing so cultivate an appreciation of the relevance of science to people’s lives