The Dewdrops

Dewdrops, a 3D printed recycled PET art installation located at UTown Green, celebrates NUS’s 120th anniversary as it glistens under the sunlight. The droplets, scattered across the grass, like water nourishing the earth—an essential force that sustains growth and progress, similar as how NUS nurtures its students, and embodies the university’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Each waterdrop is constructed from 3D-printed brick blocks made of upcycled filament, designed through parametric modelling referencing to the surface tension of water. The droplet incorporates 1200 PET bricks, and 5500 PP joints made from recycled plastic, which would otherwise end up in landfills or the ocean. This poignant display highlights a harsh reality—only 9% of plastic is ever recycled, while the rest breaks down into harmful microplastics, polluting the environment. These forms serve as a solemn reminder of our environmental impact, urging reflection on plastic consumption and advocating for waste reduction at its source.