
Election Day, 2018. Bill Storm and Ekaterina Mashanova were looking at computer screens, considering the available options.
They glanced at each other and exchanged wry looks. How to choose among so many snakes?
Storm and Mashanova, both William & Mary class of 2020, were looking at candidates representing the suborder Serpentes — snakes. Literal snakes.
The two, along with teammate Ian Wilenzik ’20, were beginning to pursue a deep understanding of a snake scale. The team aimed to probe the form and function of the scale, then manufacture their own scale or set of scales using the tools and expertise in William & Mary’s makerspace facilities in Swem Library…