Special issue  

We used 3D-printed building blocks (TotBlocks) in an undergraduate optical mineralogy lab session to illustrate the links between crystal structures and the optical properties of minerals. Students built mica, pyroxene, and amphibole structures. We observed improved understanding of cleavage (how minerals break) and pleochroism (how light interacts with minerals), but understanding did not improve with more abstract concepts. TotBlocks hold potential as a teaching tool in mineralogy classrooms.

I converted various CO₂ records into music for the piano. This resulted in a statistical piece with five movements and includes musical elements. This conveys a truly unique sonic experience of climate change, and portrays the severe acceleration of emissions. The composition, playable on the piano, conveys climate urgency and the medium of music increases accessibility, audience, and memorability, conveying the immersive experience of climate change that the data deserves.