Post on 25-Feb-2016
description
Introduction toMakerspacesGarages for innovation
Stephen CarterRutgers Universityscarter@rutgers.edu
Some of today’s hottest companies were started in a garage or
dorm room. Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook.
Today these companies aren’t too worried about competing
with each other. What keep’s them up at night is the thought of
what some geek is doing in some garage.
We want to build a nation of garages….
A Rich History
Many Names, One Mission
MakerspacesMakelabsMakerhoods (California)HackerspacesCreative SpacesFab Labs (New York)
A makerspace (also referred to as a hacklab, hackerspace or creative
space) is a location where people with common interests, often in
computers, technology, science, digital art or electronic art, can meet,
socialize and/or collaborate. Makerspaces can be viewed as open
community labs incorporating elements of machine shops, workshops
carftshops, and/or studios where makers come together to share
resources and knowledge to build and make things.
Wikipedia Definition:What is a Makerspace?Every slideset must include a quote from Wikipedia…
Hackerspace vs Makerspace?
A Hackerspace historically was a
location where people can repurpose
items: i.e. take two toasters and a
vacuum cleaner and turn it into a flying
jetpack.
A Makerspace has emphasis on STEM,
CAD, crafts, innovation, creativity and
education. Making things.
Simple … but complex
Technology, machinery, crafts,
…. but its not just about the equipment.
Makerspaces can take many forms
To Provide the tools of Creativity
Makerspace goals are simple:
create, motivate, innovate.
What goes on in Makerspaces?
OPEN HOURS
Times when facility is open to its members/public for fabrication, experimentation, or fixing one's toaster.
MEETUPS
Informal seminars (i.e weekly) on some mutual topic of interest. Includes 30-60 minute, followed by experimentation.
CHALLENGES
Organized competition in various topics. Many including commercial sponsorship and prizes.
DISRUPTIVE EDUCATION
Using makerspaces as the vehicle for advanced educational strategies, i.e. learn by doing.
Not just Pop-tarts and Cheetos
MIT Power Wheels Racing at New York’s Maker Faire every September.
High Schoolers in a Hopewell Barn
New Jersey help paved the way…
The RESISTORS - Radically Emphatic Students Interested in Science, Technology and Other Research Subjects was one of the first computer clubs in the United States, meeting in the sixties and seventies in a Hopewell Barn in central New Jersey. The group of computer geeks (mostly teen students at Hopewell Valley Central High School) formed in 1966 to play with electronics, write primitive code, talk about the future of computing, and protest bad science education. Publicly Supported
R.E.S.I.S.T.O.R.S formed in 1966
Most makerspaces today are
electronic / IT centric.
Equipment supported includes
3d printers, laser cutters,
micro-controllers (Arduino),
electronics and robotics.
Makeup of a Makerspace?Most Makerspaces have common equipment base…
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Renewable Energy and
Sustainability
• Life Science and Bio
• Arts and Fashion
• Commercial Kitchens
But Also…Makerspaces emerging in new focus areas
Rapid PrototypingAllowing small business and entrepreneurs to compete with Fortune 500 companies. Some examples:
• STEM students interested in
entrepreneurship.
• Prototyping
• Peer to Peer Networking
• Gateway to start-ups
And Entrepreneurship…Makerspaces and Entrepreneurship, perfect together
DIY RevolutionPerhaps the next bubble?
A new era of entrepreneurship and innovation that promises to reinvent business models and manufacturing.
A world where anyone can make almost anything where an individual can be a one-man corporation with global distribution.
Publicly Supported
Membership Supported (Private)
Types of Makerspaces
Typically a group of like-minded individuals forming a 501c3 supported by membership dues ($25-$100 per month). Pays rental of space (garage/warehouse), insurance, and basic equipment. Loosely organized.
A makerspace at a university, k-12, library, museum, etc. Supported by grants, foundations, donations, public funds.
Also membership based, but designed for profit. Usually large with broad base of equipment, classes and membership plans.
Publicly Supported
Commercial
Corporate PartnershipsMany examples happening now:
Located in California, Texas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the TechShop chain is a membership-based project workshop that provides member access to tools, equipment, instruction and a community of creative and supportive people who can help you build the things you've always wanted to make.http://www.techshop.ws
Corporate PartnershipsLowes/TechShop Austin facility is 17,000 square feet:
Commercial InvestmentNextFab’s Philadelphia facility is 21,000 square feet:
• Over $4m in equipment• 3D Printers, laser, textiles, electronics• CAD, CNC & traditional machinery• Flow Jet, bio wetlab, paint booth,
photography• Also entrepreneurship offices for rent
a guy with a full garage Surplus machinery moves to a historic theatre
Industrial equipment maintenance and repair guy starts workshop for artists, craftsman, and innovators in an old Collingswood theatre helping to bring craftsmanship back to the US.
Detroit Public LibraryMilwaukee Public Library
West Port, CT Library
Great for Libraries!
Cleveland Public Library
• Sponsorship - Recruit sponsors for events, allowing tech and other companies to invest in single or ongoing programmatic efforts in areas of most interest to the community.
• Revenue Opportunities - Create new ways to fund operations based upon the corporate sponsors that reflect the type of space created.
• Mentorship – Promote mentoring, allowing mentors to share expertise and knowledge with others in their community.
• Resources – In addition to traditional access to computers and internet, may also include code repositories, APIs, software and other resources to facilitate learning.
• Community Innovation - Library makerspaces can be centers for community innovation to occur, bringing in outside ideas, and circulating new ideas within existing community leaders.
• Incubation - Library makerspaces can be centers of business incubation, providing a an environment for ideas to take root and the resources they need to actually become businesses, creating desperately needed jobs in communities.
Opportunities for Libraries
and for the next generation!
MIT Mobile Fab Lab
• Public Supported:• Rutgers University (2)• Newark Museum• Piscataway Library• Monroe Twp Library• Bridgeton Digifactor
• Membership Supported:• Fubar Labs• Trenton Atelier• Institute for Exploratory Research• Hoboken Makerbar• Hive 4A (Allentown, PA)• NextFab (Philadelphia)• The Factory• SoHa Smart
NJ’s Makerspaces aregaining momentum!
http://www.njmakerspace.org
Based at Rutgers University, the New Jersey Makerspace Association will:
• Encourage collaboration and partnerships among New Jersey's makerspaces -
both member based and publicly supported;
• Provide technical guidance and consultation for K-12 and other public entities
(i.e. libraries) wishing to create new spaces;
• Seek grant opportunities for equipment and events (i.e. MakerFaires);
• Promote makerspaces to our elected representatives;
• Create curriculum for educational related activities.
Goals of New Jersey Makerspace Association
http://www.njmakerspace.org
Current Funding Initiatives
• Base Operations (staff to assist new projects)• Curriculum Development (distributed to NJ’s Makerspaces)• Equipment
Private Foundations, State/Federal, In-Kind Donations
The importance of play
JUST DO IT.We encourage everyone to start making in your communities and schools. Create something of your own imagination. The thought of starting a makerspace can be daunting. Finding space, funding and selecting equipment, engaging the public, recruiting mentors and staff, liability, etc.
is here to help. Publicly Supported
Questions?Let us know your ideas!
Drop me a note! scarter@rutgers.edu