Notre Dame 3D Tech Inspires Nonprofit Startup
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA nonprofit sprouted from high-tech laboratory projects at the University of Notre Dame is continuing to grow. Flourish3D, which is located at Innovation Park, creates images of flowers picked at sites throughout the South Bend campus and several other colleges. The plants are duplicated through CT scanning, then digitized and etched inside crystals to give to patients who can’t receive fresh flowers due to the effects of illness or cancer treatment. Flourish3D was recently featured in our Life Sciences INdiana e-newsletter and Anthony Van Avermaete of Flourish3D was joined on Inside INdiana Business Television by Notre Dame Assistant Director of Biological Imaging Sarah Chapman to discuss the inspiration and process.
The crystals go for $45 and all proceeds are put back into cancer research. The non-profit’s motto is "Custom Crystals for a Cause" and it currently offers collections of flowers that are found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, University of Illinois and Miami University of Ohio campuses. Plans call to expand to using other flowers at additional campuses, such as Michigan State University and Ohio State University.
You can read more about Flourish3D from Special Projects Reporter Kylie Veleta by clicking here.