Natalie Lusk is a standout Florida State University studio art undergraduate, whose sculptures confront consumer culture, question the definition of aesthetic beauty and spark conversations about critical issues.

She recently received an IDEA Grant for her project “On Iteration: Fabrication Arts and Plant Growth,” which combines hand-woven textiles with live plant materials.

Natalie’s work aims to educate others about the significant role of art in society and emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in art creation. She explores a variety of mediums and collaborates with experts from different disciplines to achieve this goal.

In addition to her academic achievements, Natalie is dedicated to supporting her peers in the Department of Art. She serves as a Digital Art Fab Lab technician, where she assists students with advanced technologies such as 3D printing, laser cutting and other digital fabrication tools. Through this role, she helps foster a collaborative and innovative environment for aspiring artists.

Why did you choose to attend FSU?

I chose to attend FSU to become a part of its prestigious art program. I was excited about the opportunity to engage with faculty who create innovative research-based artwork. The Department of Art offers an amazing breadth of resources to students, including facilities for fabrication, gallery spaces to show work in and the opportunity to hold a personal studio as an undergraduate.

FSU’s strong Department of Art and academic reputation was what led me to apply, but when my mother and I visited for a tour of the university, I was impacted by the beauty of campus and the noticeable happiness of students. I got a feeling that this was where I was supposed to be. As soon as I received my acceptance, my decision was made.

What academic achievements are you most proud of?

The most significant part of my academic experience at FSU has been my combination of studying art with other disciplines. Courses in areas like astronomy, art history and English showed me how much I enjoyed studying. I realized that cultural and scientific knowledge can be the basis for deep inspiration in my art practice. I am especially proud of my commitment to each one of my classes, which has allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

I was awarded an IDEA Grant to create a project during the summer of 2024. Supervised by Professor Rob Duarte, my research focused on how the manipulation of materials can come to represent metaphysical questions about the nature of perception, the individual spirit, light and structure. The project culminated in two installations at the Carnaghi Arts Building and a research poster, which I presented at the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence.

How have you used your art education to serve others?

Working as a graphic designer for the Center for Leadership & Service and Sustainable Campus at FSU allowed me to use the aesthetic knowledge I have gained from my art study to communicate important initiatives to the community. Being a part of these teams also allowed me to do more than just design. Participating in team ideation sessions, tabling and generating ideas for how to increase campus reach were the most fulfilling aspects of these roles.

How has your research impacted the FSU community?

I have contributed to interdisciplinary collaboration at FSU by exhibiting my artwork and engaging in conversations about art’s potential to serve a purpose deeper than beauty. I hope that my engagement with undergraduate research at FSU has inspired other young researchers to explore creative methods of research and collaboration.

I strive to create artwork that becomes a site of knowledge production. My practice focuses on architectural materials, single-use materials, accumulation, waste, aesthetic beauty and how these aspects of our reality impact our actions. By showing my work, I hope to inspire others to engage with their surroundings and question the necessity of pervasive aspects of material culture more critically.

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Florida State University Libraries, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, the Food for Thought Pantry and Sustainable Campus, recently unveiled the inaugural permanent food donation bin in the Paul Dirac Library lobby during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Food for Thought Pantry, which relies entirely on donations from various sources including Second Harvest of the Big Bend, plays a crucial role in supporting students facing food insecurity. As the number of students utilizing this resource continues to rise, the university is exploring alternative and effective ways to sustain and assist in this vital service.

Gale Etschmaier, dean of FSU Libraries, expressed support for the new donation bin initiative, highlighting its potential to make a significant impact on the local community.

“We are thrilled to introduce a permanent food donation bin at Dirac,” Etschmaier said. “This is the second food donation bin at FSU Libraries; the first was installed at Strozier in April, a testament to our commitment to supporting students facing food insecurity. This initiative underscores the power of community and the importance of sustainable support systems.”

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Pantry recorded 18,203 student contacts, with nearly 88% of these interactions occurring through main Pantry visits. The Pantry also organized six mobile distribution events across campus, dining hall meal swipe donation distributions, a hurricane preparation distribution and Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) workshops.

In total, 3,239 unique students accessed Pantry services last school year, which includes summer 2023, fall 2023 and spring 2024. This marks a significant increase of nearly 58% from the previous academic year.

This month, FSU’s Food for Thought Pantry is participating in a competition with UF’s Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry where each type of donation item is assigned a point value. At the end of the Chop & Chomp Food Drive on Nov. 26, the inventories will be totaled based on the point system and the school with the most points will be declared the winner.

“We know from research that food insecurity can have detrimental effects on student well-being and academic success,” said Food for Thought Pantry Program Manager, Haley Gentile. “The Chop & Chomp Food Drive channels friendly competition with the University of Florida into our shared mission to reduce food insecurity on our campuses.”

The Pantry’s fall hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The facility is closed on weekends and university holidays. Any alterations to standard hours are advertised in the Pantry and on the Pantry’s social media pages.

For more information on how to donate to the Food for Thought Pantry, visit dsst.fsu.edu/foodpantry/donations.

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Florida State University Libraries, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, the Food for Thought Pantry and the FSU Sustainable Campus, unveiled a permanent food donation bin in the Strozier Library lobby Wednesday, April 10, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The Food for Thought Pantry, which relies entirely on donations from various sources, including Second Harvest of the Big Bend, plays a crucial role in supporting students facing food insecurity. All new, unopened, non-perishable food items are accepted as donations and picked up by Sustainable Campus monthly.   

“As the number of students utilizing this resource continues to rise, it becomes imperative for the university to explore alternative and effective ways to sustain and fund this essential service,” said Gale Etschmaier, dean of University Libraries. “These bins serve as symbols of compassion, allowing neighbors to share with one another. It is not merely about giving; it is about fostering a culture of care where no one goes hungry.” 

Research indicates that addressing food insecurity directly impacts student well-being. Low food security correlates with poor mental health outcomes, and both food insecurity and psychological distress can affect academic performance. 

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Kristen Weeks and Carley Reid, chemistry graduate students at Florida State University, have taken their passion for sustainability beyond the lab by initiating a glove recycling project. 

The pair has managed to turn their concern for plastic waste into a practical and impactful endeavor that has caught the attention of their department and beyond. 

The inspiration for the glove recycling project was borne out of Reid’s interest in sustainability, which was recognized by chemistry Professor Brian Miller. Reid teamed up with Weeks, who had previous experience with a glove recycling program at the College of Charleston in South Carolina during her undergraduate studies.  

Their initial project involved assessing single-use plastics within their department. Their work revealed that gloves were the largest contributors to plastic waste. 

Their solution involved partnering with TerraCycle, a company that specializes in recycling materials that are difficult to recycle conventionally. Through the FSU Sustainable Campus Green Fund Grant, they secured $5,000 in seed money to kickstart their initiative. The funding enabled them to purchase specially designed collection boxes for communal areas in their research buildings.

Collecting gloves from these designated drop-off points, Weeks and Reid recycled 193 pounds of gloves, equivalent to nearly 28,000 pairs, in just over a year.  

“We can’t recycle very hazardous gloves, so this isn’t even the whole amount of gloves that our department is even using but it is a sizable fraction,” said Reid, who grew up in Palatka, Florida, and hopes to use her scientific knowledge to solve environmental issues. 

The gloves are sent to TerraCycle for recycling, which transforms them into products such as park equipment, benches, Frisbees and coasters. 

While the project requires consistent monitoring and periodic collection, Weeks and Reid manage their responsibilities alongside their regular research work. They dedicate a few hours a semester to collecting and sending out the gloves. 

For now, the glove recycling program is operating within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. However, Weeks and Reid have ambitions for its expansion.  

Weeks, who works in an organic chemistry lab studying different copper catalyzed reactions and hopes to go into the law side of chemistry in the future, said they aim to collaborate with other departments such as biology and physics, with the goal of fostering a culture of sustainability and waste reduction throughout FSU.  

They said they hope to share their experiences and findings at conferences to inspire broader change in plastic consumption practices. 

“As scientists, we often consume disposable plastics in our work, making it challenging to align with environmental concerns,” Reid said. “We aim to change this mindset and reduce our plastic waste, inspiring a wider shift in how we approach sustainability.”

Weeks added: “TerraCycle and projects like ours highlight that it’s possible to make a significant impact on sustainability goals. By collaborating with them and spreading awareness, we can encourage others to follow suit.” 

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