LEVITATING TOXINS
Interactive Installation Highlighting Lead Contamination at
Ithaca Falls
Cornell University
Fall 2021
Independant Project
Advised by : Joanna Malinowska
Location : Ithaca, NY
THEME: Environmental Awareness and Community Education
PROCESS: Interactive Installation + Youth Engagement
MATERIAL: Contaminated Soil Samples, Electromagnet Device
RESULT: Advocacy for Environmental Safety
This project raises awareness about lead contamination near Ithaca Falls, where lead levels of up to 21,000 ppm far exceed the allowable 400 ppm. Using a 7x7-inch table with three shelves and electromagnets, soil samples from the site are levitated to intrigue viewers while emphasizing the contamination’s dangers. Informational signage and displays explain the pollution and why the soil is monumentalized, ensuring viewers are cautious. The installation was presented to a third-grade class, leveraging “pester power” to educate the next generation. These students are now equipped to inform their communities and exercise caution when visiting the beautiful but hazardous Ithaca Falls.
Site visit with Actavist Walter Hang
educating third graders about the lead contamination at ithaca falls, through electromagnatism