A body of work, both creative and scholarly in nature, emerged between 2013 and 2021, spanning the disciplines of art, architecture, mathematics, engineering, and education. This work includes installations constructed from recycled materials, research on STEM pedagogy in the context of recycling, and teaching experiments exploring the tectonics of surface construction through modular systems. Presented across classrooms, university campuses, public art venues, scholarly publications, and international contexts, these projects collectively demonstrate an integrated approach to design, pedagogy, and environmental engagement.
Weiling He, Astrid C. Layton, Terry S. Creasy, Alejandro Borges, “Resistance to Opportunities of Plastic Recycling,” in ENQ: The ARCC Journal for Architectural Research, vol. 18, issue 2, Architecture, Waste, and the Circular Economy, Stable URL: 10.17831/enq:arcc.v16i2.1098
Ergun Akleman, Luciana Barroso, Mary M. Capraro, Terry Creasy, Kenneth Fleming, Weiling He, Liang Hong, Ashley M. Williams, “Recycling Plastics: Middle School Students Create Solutions During a Summer Camp,” in European Journal of STEM Education, 2019, 4(1), ISSN: 2468-4368.
Weiling He, Chengde Wu, Ergun Akleman. “Constructing Deltahedra from Recycled Plastic Bottles,” Bridges Conference on Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, Architecture, Education, and Culture, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Kusama Wall, Austin Trash Makeover Challenge 2017, Austin, Texas Role: lead designer, Collaborators: Cecilia Guerava (production manager), Dr. Jinsil Seo (interactive artist), Student team: Abiel Canales, Alyssa Dophied, Coutney Ward, Michael Watson.
Grove, Downtown Bryan, Bryan, Texas Role: installation designer, collaborators: Carisa Armstrong (production manager), Dr. Jinsil Seo (interactive artist), Morgan Jenks (electronic artist), Student team: John Willies, Todd Heger, Samantha Simmons, Joshua Allen, Sergio Arreola Lopez.
Light Echo II, Austin Trash Makeover Challenge 2016, Austin, Texas Role: lead designer, collaborators: Cecilia Guerava (production manager), Dr. Jinsil Seo (interactive artist), Morgan Jenks (electronic artist), core student team: Daniel Eynon, Samuel Kuhn, Stephanie Maddamma, Charley Tyeskie, and Alan Delgado.
Light Echo I, Earth Day Dallas, Dallas, Texas Role: lead designer, collaborators: Jinsil Seo (interactive artist), Morgan Jenks (electronic artist).
Milky Way, Brazos Valley African American Museum, Bryan, Texas Role: designer and leader artist, collaborators: Dr. Cecilia Giusti and Wayne Sadberry (curators), Dr. John Nichols (Structure Engineer).
Cloud Igloo in Comfort Zones, School of Architecture, The Royal Institute of Arts, Stockholm, Sweden. Role: designer and leader artist, collaborators: Dr. Peter Lang (creative director), I worked with Peter Geschwind (sculptor), Amanda Newall (fashion designer), Theodore Trottner (sound artist), Sun Ying and Elin Rooth (Light artists).
Plastic Poetry in CENTER 19: Curtains, Center of Architecture and Design in America, University of Texas in Austin. Project proposal. Team members: Ganesh Rao, Shyam Kannapurakkaran, Keenan McCord, Miaomaio Xiao.
Plastic Poetry, Center for American Architecture and Design, UT Austin, Texas (An installation project that won the competition. It was constructed on the UT campus and on show in the exhibition “Curtains” in October 2013.) Role: designer and project leader. Team members: Ganesh Rao and Miaomiao Xiao. The project proposes an installation constructed solely of single-use plastic shopping bags on UT campus.