Engage

Natural materials are all around you. From the clothes you wear to the paper you write on, these are ordinary objects are made from fibers which have the capacity to interact with and absorb liquids. Rope made from the Li plant and paper made from Phragmite reed might contain a plant fiber with a surprising capacity to retain water. We want to know about it!

Our simple experiments can be used to explore the phenomena of absorption with minimal resources. Classroom settings can be used to explore the difference between a sanitary napkin and paper or between rope and a piece of paper. Opening a dialogue between materials and menstruation.

Manipulating the properties of these materials is a complex process that normally keeps material recipes hidden from view. Here we invite others to manipulate the fibers around them to help them become better absorbents. The challenge is to go as quickly from plant to absorbent fiber in as few steps as possible while using as little energy as possible.

This project is an experiment in purposeful materials science done in the open. We invite you to tell stories, share your results, and document your process for the rest of the world to learn from.