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About

Skylar Tibbits is a pioneer at the intersection of architecture, materials science, and computer science, best known for founding the Self-Assembly Lab at MIT. His research focuses on programmable materials, 4D printing, and large-scale digital fabrication, where he explores how materials can be designed to transform, assemble, and repair themselves. Tibbits’ major contributions include the development of *Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing* (104 citations), a breakthrough that enables fast, continuous 3D printing of industrial-scale objects using gel suspensions, overcoming traditional limitations of build volume and speed. He also advanced soft robotics with *Printed Silicone Pneumatic Actuators* (83 citations) and a *3D Printed Pneumatic Toolkit* (59 citations), replacing complex casting methods with accessible, printable components. His work on *Jammed Architectural Structures* (68 citations) introduced reversible, granular construction for large-scale buildings. Beyond technical papers, Tibbits authored the influential book *Things Fall Together: A Guide to the New Materials Revolution*, which reimagines matter as active, programmable, and self-organizing. His visionary projects, including lunar construction with *Moon BRICCSS*, demonstrate his commitment to sustainable, adaptive environments. With over 300 citations across his key works, Tibbits continues to inspire a new generation of researchers to rethink the very nature of materials and making.