In the fall of 2024, I worked as a research technician on the Sustainable Materials team at the Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas. This position provided me with the opportunity to explore the science behind creating sustainable designs that challenge user perception and behaviour.

Our focus was on Mycology: the study of mushrooms. We worked to uncover the properties of mycelium (essentially mushroom roots) that make it a sustainable material with ample opportunity. Following methods of Material Driven Design, we put mycelium-composites to the test, designing furniture prototypes to be used around Institute, and manufacturing protocols for other remote island regions to follow.