Circadian Sea

Circadian Sea is an interactive display of bioluminescent algae. It was developed as my master’s thesis for the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU. Cultures of Pyrocystis fusiformis are enclosed in a structure of transparent acrylic spheres, inviting users to manipulate and inspect the algae on a range of scales, from small groups of individually discernable plankton to the illumination of the entire structure. As users move their hands across the face of the construction, the spheres spin in place, agitating the algae and causing it to glow. Visitors may choose to focus on a single sphere of algae or use the length of their arms to spin all of the spheres at once.

For a look into the design and development process that went into Circadian Sea, please see my thesis blog entries or watch the video of my thesis presentation.