Jessica Salter

Fossils from the Future (2020)

The world is dynamic and changing, and the future is unknown. Across an innumerable amount of studies, data is produced in large quantities through advanced scientific research and desired to be communicated. However, often it is difficult to translate this information into mediums that are comprehensible to the general public, and a full understanding is typically reserved for those with specialised academic backgrounds.

Ocean acidification due to climate change is one example of a significant and dynamic issue that is presently affecting our planet adversely and will inevitably continue to do so into the future with drastic impacts possible to occur within the next 80 years. In order to mitigate issues of this nature, it is crucial that an understanding is held by not only those with expertise in the field but also to reach a wider audience and encourage potential for change.

The main question for this research was how might the context of time and environment be modelled efficiently in order to communicate a narrative through 3D printing? The ability to communicate to the general public can be achieved through the narrative that a visual or physical object provides. As for example, fossils encapsulated in rock avoided disintegration, preserving understandable and engaging information from a historical time through a tangible object.

This research for Jessica Salter’s Master thesis: “Fossils from the future – Exposing procedural efficiency in the context of 3D printing” explores the opportunity for data to be translated into an easily interpretable visual and physical medium. By using a procedural system, this allows for an undetermined number of outcomes to be explored efficiently, including those which are initially unknown or cannot be perceived. This is in contrast to traditional 3D modelling software, where the designer must fully control and manipulate the finer details of a model.

Expanding on previous research (Lissom, The Style Machine, Hydrophytes), voxel printing on the J750 was chosen, as this printing method is sympathetic to nature based models where cellular material is desired to be replicated. The full-colour properties of this printing offer high levels of colour vibrancy and resolution to generate 3D printed models. In comparison to traditional S.T.L. printing, voxel printing creates smooth blends of material and colour, offering the ability to develop complex external and internal geometry, moving past mono-material 3D part printing.