The Creative Labs Center (CLC), one of ENVD’s specialized workshops and studio spaces, has been a hub of activity, hosting thousands of students and countless projects. This summer, however, the CLC welcomed a unique group of residents — a flock of birds.  

With wings crafted from painted cardboard, feathers cut from CNC machines and large beaked masks made from papier-mâché, the birds paraded through the Center for Innovation and Creativity (CINC) and soared over the rolling hills of Chatauqua Park. These bird costumes were the culmination of an immersive art-science program, brought to life by a multidisciplinary team of CU faculty, undergraduate mentors and a group of high-school-aged youth who made the CLC their temporary creative nest this summer.  

Side by Side’s Interspecies Fellowship Program, an initiative funded by a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, aims to increase participation and a sense of belonging in STEM for historically marginalized young women and gender expansive youth through immersive art-science learning experiences. The projects, which combine biological observation and research with performance and arts, are focused on shifting the ways participants think about and interact with the natural world. 

“Side by Side looks at disrupting the hierarchical relationship of humans over nature,” Side by Side Executive Director Chelsea Hackett noted. “It's literally putting us side by side.” 

In this case, paid high-school aged fellows were tasked with placing themselves side by side with birds. “When we think about climate change and we think about the shifts that need to happen for us to have a more sustainable relationship with the wider environment, birds are very acceptable,” Hackett explained. “They're everywhere. Migratory birds tell us very quickly about the changes in our environment.” 

CU faculty, including ENVD Associate Professor Shawhin Roudbari, Professor Beth Osnes from the Department of Theater and Dance and Professor Rebecca Safran from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, provided support throughout much of the program. Safran’s lab, which studies barn swallow behavior, specifically helped the group to focus on the co-evolution of humans and barn swallows.  

“Barn swallows are the only birds that exclusively nest on human-made structures, which I thought was super interesting to relate to architecture,” Maya Handelman, ENVD ‘25, noted. Handelman, along with six other undergraduate students, supported the young participants as near-peer mentors throughout the summer. “We were in the CINC for a portion of each day, and I got to show a lot of students about some steps of the design process,” Handelman said. 

The design process included laser cutting feathers out of recycled yard signs, constructing giant papier-mâché bird masks resembling a species of the fellows’ choice, visiting a thrift store to gather clothing and materials and designing the interior and exterior of small birdhouses. While Side by Side has piloted this program in the past, this summer was the first year that it included members of the ENVD community and, as a result, the first year that it became such a materials-focused project. 

"We got to see how they repurpose a ton of materials. The students are so creative, they all have such a sense of style,” Handelman remembers. “Letting students have creative freedom also lets them have more ownership over the project and they get to feel a lot of internal pride as well, which was super important.” 

Integral to Side by Side is the concept of centering youth as knowledge holders, a practice that Handelman and Hackett note is often overlooked in traditional educational models. The initiative also seeks to integrate biological observation with artistic themes by encouraging fellows to value all their senses and explore joy and creativity, rather than focusing solely on data collection. 

“I think particularly within academic institutions, there has been a history of overvaluing quantitative information,” Hackett explained. “The goal of this project is not to say the data and the information isn't important — because it is, and it deeply informs the work that we're doing. But it's really like, how do we take Becca and her lab's deep understanding they've built of the history of barn swallows through a biological lens and use that to think about our own shared relationship with birds and our own shared vision of the future?” 

From Handelman’s personal experience, engaging in science through hands-on learning is what ultimately led her to pursue environmental design. She hopes that through this project, she can provide positive art-science experiences for her mentees, especially at a critical point in their lives. “ENVD is really the overlap of arts and science,” she said. “I'm so used to thinking in that way and I think it’s such a useful skill to have.”  

Hackett agrees. She views the mentorship between the undergrads like Handelman and the young fellows as key to helping them develop and harness these skills. “We've seen that there's something really powerful about near peer mentorship,” she explained. “Our undergrads working with our high schoolers is really, really effective at expanding their understanding of what type of STEM fields or beyond STEM fields they could do climate work in.” 
 

Lianna Nixon

Maya Handleman (���Ա��ٱ��’25)
Ayush Ghosh (Phys, Thtr’25)
Vianney Aguilar (�Ѱճ�ٰ�’26)
Manogya Thapa (�Ѱ�ٵ�����’27)
Franco Devecchi (�ʲ��⳦��’26)
Nevaeh Sauceda (�����ٰ��DZʳ���’27)
Emilia Wencel (���Բ���’27)

Off

The Program in Environmental Design at the �鶹ӰԺ is hosting a through Dec. 31, 2022, to raise funds for upgrading design technology used in our in-house creative labs and makerspaces.  

The Environmental Design curriculum emphasizes hands-on and experiential learning. Our creative labs and makerspaces are heavily used by students daily. With advances in technology and software, upgrading and maintaining state-of-the-art equipment and tools for our students is a high priority. 

With your generous donations, Environmental Design hopes to raise $10,000 towards upgrading 3D printers and laser cutters.  

Off

Digital Media Center (DMC)

Hours of operation: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Large-format printing and 3D printing will primarily operate as a service model. Students can submit their files for review and printing. Once prints are finalized, students will be notified when they are able to pick up their work. DMC staff will be available to assist students in setting up projects upon request. Students should meet with DMC staff before using the 3D print room. 

• The photography studio can be reserved for student use. Students can use the photo studio in limited capacities. Photo equipment will be sanitized after each use, and students will be asked to use hand sanitizer before and after handling equipment.

• Large equipment, such as cameras and laptops will be available for student checkout and will be sanitized after each use. Smaller items, such as studio supplies, will not be available for student checkout.
• Students can contact DMC staff through , email or by phone at 303-735-1704.

Learn more about the DMC

Creative Labs Center (CLC)

Hours of operation: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sunday, 12 to 8 p.m.
*Aug. 31 thru Sept. 12: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sunday hours begin Sept. 12
**Labs will be closed for orientation sessions on Aug. 24, 26, 31 and Sept. 2, 7, 9, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 3:55 to 5:55 p.m. 

• 3D printers and the CNC machine will operate primarily as a service model. Students can submit files via PaperCut and will be notified when their work is ready to be picked up.
• The laser lab, wood lab and metal lab can be accessed by students through the service model, as well as in-person for students who have completed the CLC orientation and safety training. Labs will include an assembly area where students can perform post-processing and assembly of their projects. 
• Students are welcome and highly encouraged to visit the CLC in person anytime during open hours to explore and engage. CLC staff are available to assist and support students with their design projects. Faculty and students should contact Jeff Allen, manager of the Creative Labs Center, to learn more about more opportunities when using the shop space.
• Students can contact CLC staff through , email or by phone. 

Learn more about the CLC

Off

The Digital Media Center and Creative Labs Center continue to assist students with their fabrication needs through the web-based and in-person service model.

Reserve Makerspace

At this time, students do not have direct access to the fabrication labs, however, students can access the makerspace area in CINC 152. To adhere to applicable public health guidelines for in-person activities, students must reserve a makerspace table using the . 

Faculty can reserve Remote Lecture Hub space at both the ENVD and CINC buildings using the Outlook Room Calendar. 

Support & Resources

Students can access tutorials, tips and information about available capabilities for each center on the Creative Labs & Makerspace webpage, as well as the newly launched DMC/CLC Canvas course. Students are encouraged to keep an eye on their email inbox for an invite to the Canvas course. 

Submitting Fabrication Files

At this time, students will need to follow strict adherence to file submission standards. This will ensure a smooth fabrication process. Students should monitor the status of their fabrication request and make necessary corrections noted in the PaperCut job ticket comment section. 

For students taking ENVD courses remotely, out-of-state, and/or not in the �鶹ӰԺ area, fabricated projects can be shipped to their home address. Students will not be charged for the cost of shipping, however, they will be responsible for purchasing materials used. In the case a project needs to be shipped, the student should inform their instructor and refer to the shipping guidelines. 

Off

The Digital Media Center and Creative Labs Center will operate and assist students through a web-based and in-person service model, during the fall 2020 semester. Students will not have direct access to the fabrication labs, photography studio, select scanners and smaller checkout items. Students will have access to the makerspace area in CINC 152. Both labs will adhere to university social distancing and safety guidelines and expect students that use the space do the same. 

Students can  on the online reservation system, which is similar to the one used for reserving time for the laser cutter. Faculty can also reserve studio and conferencing space located in the ENVD building and CLC in the ENVD program Outlook calendar.

Students can access links for assistance with file setup and file submissions on the Facilities & Resources ENVD webpage. The quality of submission files will be key to the success of the new service model.

Both centers have several student assistants ready to help students with software questions. Help can be requested through the public channels on the . Students can connect with DMC and CLC between 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. .

Video tutorials are being developed to assist students in preparing files for submission to each lab. They will be available on the channel. 

File Submission Process

• Required filename convention: Class_FirstName_LastName_Assignment#
• File reviewed by TA and/or CLC/DMC staff member.
• File submitted by the student to . 
• Comments concerning additional corrections to file will be placed on PaperCut job ticket and an email is sent to the student.
  *Incorrect file formats, will be discarded and the job will require re-submission.
• The file confirmed to be correct.

• File placed in the queue of the appropriate lab.
  ​*Staff will not correct the file at the time of fabrication. The CLC will produce what they receive, if the submitted drawings are not accurate cuts will reflect those inaccuracies.
• Students will receive an email confirmation with an estimated time of completion.
• Once in the lab queue, it may take 2-7 days for execution dependent upon current overall workload and the demand on individual labs. Typically, the laser lab will have the quickest turnaround and the CNC lab will have the longest.
• Students will receive an email confirming that parts are ready for pickup.

Acrylic, MDF and plywood will continue to be available for purchase through the labs. *Payment, via credit/debit card, must be made prior to taking possession of items.

Off