Origami+Space: Unfolding the future of robotics

The Art + Science Salon is a virtual group where researchers, artists, thinkers, and revolutionaries come to share ideas. Organised by PhD candidates Autumn Brown (Science Gallery Dublin and School of Education) and Amelia McConville (School of English and Institute of Neuroscience) and supported by Science Gallery Dublin and the Trinity Long Room Hub, the series explores the ways art and science shape one another and society.
This session explores the ancient tradition of origami and how this delicate artform allows new technologies to blossom in the vacuum of space. Joining us to discuss the impact from the terrestrial to celestial is creative technologist Lizbeth B. De La Torre.
Lizbeth B. De La Torre is a Creative Technologist in The Studio at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She holds a BFA in Illustration-Entertainment Art, designing vehicles, props and environments for feature film animation from Art Center College of Design. Liz uses design thinking methods and techniques to imagine the future of technology in space. She earned her Master’s of Science with the MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled Research Group.
She works on creative projects and tech demos for various space missions and mission formulation for future missions. Apart from Illustrating two posters included in the NASA Visions of the Future series (see below) she also co-lead research in astronaut devices and wearables for situational awareness and robotic interaction on Mars. Her current research examines the intersection of creativity and aerospace, and how creative techniques are of benefit to space technology innovation.
Lizbeth is also a consultant with The Science and Entertainment Exchange, a programme by the National Academy of Sciences that connects entertainment industry professionals with top scientists and engineers to create a synergy between accurate science and engaging story lines in both film and TV programming.