Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching thread like hyphae. It’s somewhat like the root system of the fungi.
 

Mycelium composite materials are grown by mixing mycelium with agricultural waste, and serve as an excellent biodegradable and sustainable alternative to styrofoam.

During my summer break, I went to intern at Roha Biotech, a startup that develops mycelium based composite materials for packaging.

During my internship, I tried to understand the material properties of mycelium composites and explore the possibilities of creating complex textures and surfaces with mycelium based materials.

I experimented with growing mycelium in thermoformed molds, 3d printing with mycelium, sculpting with mycelium composites, etc.

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The following is a set of photographs showcasing the process as well as the final outcomes.