Imagine an ethical way to get up close to any animal ever, without interfering with it? Soon, this will be a possibility thanks to Duncan Irschick and his team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Irschick is the director of Digital Life, a project digitally documenting and 3D modelling every living species on Earth. Using specialised technology, they recreate in accurate detail the body shapes of animals so that they can offer it to the public for conservation, education, and science. “Through the joining of conservation and innovation, we’re able to ethically bring wildlife into everybody’s life,” Irschick says.
With animals facing an increasing number of threats every day, it’s more important than ever to find methods to study them that are non-invasive and non-harmful. “Every person deserves to fall in love with animals, and every species deserves to be respected when they are studied,” Irschick says. Visit digitallife3d.org to view more of their work.
Footage by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst was used in the creation of this film.
Up Next in Season 1
-
Mangroves Action Project & Leo Thom
Mangrove forests are found in coastal and tropical regions and thrive in low-oxygen soil. They support marine life, serve as a barrier against damaging weather effects, protect coastal communities, enhance biodiversity, reduce temperatures, and nourish ecosystems. But over 35% of the world’s mang...
-
Dr. Kristen Lear
Dr Kristen Lear’s introduction to bat conservation was at the age of 12, when she built houses for them during a Girl Scouts project. Her fascination propelled Lear into becoming an endangered species intervention specialist at Bat Conservation International, working on a unique project to protec...
-
Manuel Bergmann
Anyone can be an environmentalist. But when most people consider the level of work needed, it can be daunting to even try getting involved. Manuel Bergmann is making it easier for anyone to make positive change. He’s a sustainability coach and runs Coaching for Cause, an online platform that help...
