Thijs Mostert
Thijs [Tice] Mostert completed his Masters in Design at the University of Plymouth in 2021. Thijs has come from a healthcare background, working in secondary and primary care settings across the South West for over 10 years. He has a special interest in sustainability, the circular economy and digital fabrication. After completing his Masters he took on the role of project coordinator in ‘The Greenhouse’ at The Plot on Union Street for Nudge Community Builders (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/arts-humanities-business/the-greenhouse) .
The project was aimed at upskilling the local community in Digital Design. Running free workshops in VR/AR, CAD and CAM skills with and for people from the local Community and the wider Plymouth area. He led a successful program for the homeschooling community in Plymouth, teaching digital fabrication skills to homeschooled children of varying ages from within the greenhouse.
Apart from the homeschooling community, he has also helped local residents with small projects involving digital fabrication tools. Amongst other things, he has helped a local blacksmith in combining ancient Japanese sword making with high-tech tools, and a local artist to create the world’s first 3D scanned and printed Cornish Pasty. In October 2022 he became one of the directors of Precious Plastics Plymouth (https://preciousplasticplymouth.co.uk/)
Kate Crawfurd
Growing up in Kent and attending Cranbrook School, a creatively renowned grammar school, I developed a passion for visual arts. I studied Visual Art and Psychology at Middlesex Polytechnic, where I painted UV backdrops and eventually pursued scenic art at RADA. This led to a decade of painting for theatres worldwide, including Sydney Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall. Driven by environmental concerns, I shifted paths in 2000, studying Marine Biology in Plymouth, completing a PhD on phytoplankton and CO2 impacts at Plymouth Marine Lab. A postdoctoral stint in the Netherlands included large-scale ocean experiments, revealing crucial climate insights. Returning to Plymouth, I integrated science and creativity through educational workshops. In 2020, I joined forces with Susan on a community recycling initiative, merging with Ursula’s project at Tavistock Scrapstore. Now, through RIO’s Start Something program, we have a vibrant Plymouth-based recycling hub, combining art, education, and sustainability.