At the end of last semester I (Anna Katros), was struggling to choose a project for the next semester (the one I am currently at the end of). I spoke with NuVu fellow Anjali and we came up with a wearable oxygen bar powered by Bioluminescence. Anjali then decided because we both expressed an interest in my previous project (Aquaponics), that Isabella Bogdahn should join me in this project. Our final project ending up being the Oxygen Wearable in which we dropped the bioluminescent algae for chlorella algae which is best for oxygen production. The Oxygen Wearable is a wearable skirt that links clear, algae filtered air to the wearer via tubing and pumps. 

This past semester, instead of Isabella and I belonging to a specifically themed studio, we were in Open Innovation in which we presented our idea to a NuVu fellow, and they decided to accept or decline our proposal. This new concept is one of the many ways NuVu can help to prepare us for the future. I spoke a lot with Ryan (a NuVu fellow) who is currently going through the process of gaining his PhD. This conversation as well as a trip to NuVu studios in Cambridge where I met the CEO of NuVu's advisor helped me understand the importance of a thesis. Ryan compared his PhD proposal, thesis, and dissertation to the way that NuVu is formatted. In Cambridge, I learned about the CEO, Saeed Arida's dissertation topic. The topic was based on original and extensive research just like our ideas for NuVu projects are. The amount of research Isabella and I found on growing algae for oxygen production was slim to none. But regardless of the amount of information, we still had to propose our idea and well in order for it to get accepted. This is when I realized that Ryan was right. NuVu is very similar to applying for your doctorate so therefore it can undoubtedly help prepare students for the future. What I also realized was how hard it was going to be.

Isabella and I researched vigorously to find out what kind of algae to buy, how to grow it, and much more. We found that the majority of research on algae was either its health benefits, or the use of it for biofuel. While biofuel seemed quite neat and a lot more sustainable than oil, we realized that we could not use this research to help us with our project. Nor could we use the health benefits of adding algae supplements to smoothies, unfortunately.  What we did use to get our project going was research on how to grow algae. Once we ordered Chlorella, we filled up a tank with water, nutrients (iron),  salt, and of course, the algae cultures and thus, we became algae farmers. 

We spent quite some time trying to wrap our heads around the concept we were trying to create. Eventually we created our first prototype, which was a geometric skirt in which we would put algae inside each panel. There would be tubes that connected to a tank (reservoir) that would pump algae throughout the skirt, agitating it. This was the same principle as our final prototype, except the change of shape and use of acrylic. We had a difficult time sealing the skirt and the placement of the holes for our tubing could be improved in future iterations. Overall, our project was a successful prototype and we have a clear path for future iterations.