Suffolk Reporter

The Javits Center in Stony Brook is hosting an interactive origami installation that combines science and art. This exhibit is a collaboration between the Origami Club at Stony Brook University (SBU), the Vertically Integrated Projects Bioengineering Education, Application and Research (VIP BEAR) team, and the Biomedical Engineering Society. Their aim was to beautify student spaces with STEM-inspired artwork.

Located on the second floor of the Javits Center, the display features origami creations enhanced with lights and motors. Visitors can interact with it by waving their hands over an ultrasonic sensor or pressing a flower-shaped button, triggering light cascades and movement in origami figures.

The VIP Program at Stony Brook unites students and faculty in multidisciplinary teams for long-term projects. The mission of the VIP BEAR team is to develop solutions for bioengineering education through engineering design processes. Elizabeth Argiro, a senior member of the VIP BEAR team, stated, “We thought of this idea to try to increase youth outreach in STEM through creative means and integrating art, especially origami, was a great way to do that.”

Professor Mei Lin Chan led a sub-team of students providing technical expertise. Chunbin Lin mentioned that his initial idea was a sensory project for stress relief but evolved into an interactive exhibit when space became available at the Javits Center.

Jarrod McFarlane from the Division of Information Technology said that when Professor Chan presented her idea, it seemed like a fun way to add color while showcasing student art. Dinubasri Kumariduraivan worked on connecting motors to make origami come alive: “Underneath the flowers is a small servo motor that allows the origami crane’s wings to flap or the flowers to bloom.”

The group considered stress relief aspects in their design. Lin noted how blue light could relieve stress: “So we combined elements of art and circuit technology to make what we call ‘kinetic origami.’”

Argiro managed artwork creation with help from local schools: “We’re happy that we were able to represent the community in this display.” Other contributors included William Wells, Sana Awais, Parth Burujwale, and Soyeon Park.

Argiro emphasized her passion for science education through this project: “It was a unique way to further my coursework while also exploring a passion.” Chan described STEM+Art as engaging: “Through this Kinetic Origami Garden project...students directly applied their STEM skills creatively.”

Funding from Contribution Project grants supported this effort both inside and outside Stony Brook campus. Chan expressed gratitude for these contributions which allowed them "to beautify the campus."