3D Facility for Biomedical Sciences: Animation, Visualization, and Printing

Located on Level 2 of Avedisian Hall

Overview

What if you could hold a virus or an antibody in your own hands? Or actually watch as a cancer drug kinks a DNA, thus blocking its repair? You can.

At URI, we have created a one-of-a-kind program where students can animate, view, and print three-dimensional models to help them visualize and understand complex concepts and processes. Through this program, our faculty and students have discovered the incredible power of 3D printing and animation as effective teaching tools.

In 2003, we launched our “Teaching Animation Project” as a proof-of-concept project. Since then we have produced a number of teaching animation videos in pharmacy and related biomedical sciences.

students holding 3d printed modelsThe quality of the pilot animations and their extensive use in classes and on the Internet attest to the enormous impact of the program on teaching and global outreach. To capitalize on this success, we have expanded our capability to include 3D printing and established a new, highly innovative “3D Center for Biomedical Sciences.”

The main objective of our “3D Center” is “Making Science Visible in 3D,” helping students clearly conceptualize, visualize, and produce complex scientific ideas in 3D. Animation is an innovative hands-on teaching tool that adds to students’ learning experience out-of-class.

Student and Dr. King examine 3D moleculesThe “3D Center” not only helps produce teaching animations, but also promotes University-wide faculty/student collaboration. Students can animate, view, and print models—all in 3D. Animation, coupled with 3D visualization, will greatly improve the effectiveness of teaching and the retention of scientific concepts difficult to understand.

Our “3D Center” places the University of Rhode Island among a select few leading higher institutions that use such cutting-edge technologies in their curricula. The project is a result of collaborative efforts from Professors Bongsup Cho (Pharmacy), Marian Goldsmith (Biology, CELS), and Roy Bergstrom (Information Technology Services).

Contact

Director INBRE and Professor

Office: 495J Lab: 450

401.874.5024
bcho@uri.edu

Professor

Office: 495L Lab: 320

401.874.7061
rking@uri.edu