May 2024

This project is an animated explanation of Type 2 Diabetes, created for a Social Epidemiology course. Animation was chosen not only as a learning tool, but as a way to make complex medical concepts feel more human, engaging, and approachable.

Although Cai primarily studies science, art remains an essential part of how she processes and shares what she learns. Opportunities to make art are rare in the field, but when they arise, she embraces them as a chance to merge creativity, scientific understanding, and a genuine desire to help educate others.

The project involved extensive research and long hours of careful work. The slow, detailed nature of animation mirrors the equally meticulous process of studying disease—both demanding patience, curiosity, and care, qualities that shaped this piece from start to finish.