Taiwanese Students Turn Oyster Shells Into 3D Printed Coral Reefs

Waste shells become reef foundations

A student team from National Taiwan Normal University, working with National Taiwan Ocean University, has developed a 3D-printed artificial reef made from oyster shells and coral gravel that would otherwise end up in landfill. The project, called Reefvive, was named National Runner-Up in the Taiwan region of the James Dyson Award and entered for the 2026 Young Pin Design Awards.

Most artificial reefs rely on concrete. The Reefvive team took a different route: they ground up discarded shells and gravel, worked the material into a filament, and fed it through a 3D printer to produce modular bases with rough, textured surfaces. The texture was deliberate. It gives young coral fragments something to grip, which is exactly what a settling larva needs.

Design inspired by nature

The shape of the base started with brain coral. The students studied the winding, symmetrical ridges on its surface and used that pattern as the basis for their prototype. After several iterations, they settled on a structure with three large openings so units can be stacked underwater. Folded ridges along the sides add grip against currents, and three legs lift each base off the sandy seafloor so waves do not shift it around.

Each module clicks together without clips or fasteners. A handful of small units can link into a much larger reef framework over time.

Open-water results

Reefvive has already moved past the tank and into the ocean. In trials with National Taiwan Ocean University, the team attached 28 separate coral fragments to the printed bases. Every fragment survived the testing period, a 100% survival rate. Marine life moved in quickly. Algae, fish, hermit crabs, and even octopuses have been spotted using the structures.

The team plans to expand testing to more restoration sites and refine the design for larger-scale production. The long-term goal is to make coral restoration cheaper and easier to scale, without depending on concrete or single-use materials.