Meet Thea, Hannah, and Philippe: Ushering in the Next Phase of DiSKO
The Kelsey Museum launched its DiSKO (“Digital Study of Kelsey Objects”) website—an initiative five years in the making—in August 2024, allowing students, researchers, and the public to gain up-close looks at artifacts in our collection through 3-D models. But now that the website is live, what’s next for the project? Leading the charge are Manager of Digital Assets Chris Motz and a team of dedicated students: Theodora Bilich, Hannah Edwards, and Philippe Kame. Together, these individuals are expanding and refining the project, as well as adding models to the 3-D asset website Sketchfab.

Theodora (Thea) Bilich is a dual-degree major at the University of Michigan. She studies anthropological archaeology and the fine arts in the hope of becoming an archaeological illustrator. Thea grew up in Ann Arbor, with the Kelsey Museum serving as a home away from home.
As a research assistant in the Archaeobiology Lab, Thea works with Kelsey curator Laura Motta on the AGROS project, which seeks to reassess assumptions on ancient sustenance, food processing, and malnutrition in Graeco-Roman Egypt. Thea’s work in the lab and with the DiSKO project involves creating 3-D models of crop remains from Karanis—objects that, as it turns out, are very challenging to scan because of their small size!

Hannah Edwards is a fifth-year PhD candidate in ancient history and a student in the Museum Studies Program. She is currently writing her dissertation on Macedonian identity and culture in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Hannah began working on the DiSKO project in the winter of 2024, when she was tasked with writing object labels and descriptions for the artifacts chosen to be modeled.
In the fall of 2024, she not only continued writing object labels but also began learning how to make 3-D models through photogrammetry—allowing her to learn how to use several software programs, including Agisoft Metashape and Blender, and different photogrammetry techniques such as focus stacking. Hannah is also employing these skills to photograph objects collected from an archaeological survey project in Pella, Greece, this summer. “Being a part of the DiSKO team at the Kelsey has given me the opportunity to work alongside and be mentored by faculty such as Cathy Person and Chris Motz,” Hannah said. “My favorite part has been sharing the final results with other professors, faculty, peers, and undergraduate students!”

With a background in art history and studio art from Swarthmore College, Philippe Kame is currently pursuing a master of architecture at U-M’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. His graduate work builds on this foundation, bridging historical understanding with contemporary design practices. He is currently working on a research project exploring the potential of 3-D printing with earthen materials, supported by funding from the Arts Initiative.
Outside the classroom, Philippe also enjoys designing and building furniture—an engaging and accessible way for him to apply architectural thinking through hands-on practice. At the Kelsey Museum, Philippe contributes to the ongoing digitization of the museum’s collection, a role that aligns closely with his interests in history and the use of emerging technologies to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage. Working with ancient artifacts that trace human origins has been one of the highlights of his experience, particularly the collaborative nature of the work, which involves troubleshooting and problem-solving as part of a team.
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