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Community => Recreation Commons => Our researchers have made a breakthrough! => Topic started by: Buster's Uncle on September 22, 2013, 07:51:04 pm

Title: Maker Faire Showcases the Best of DIY Science
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 22, 2013, 07:51:04 pm

Maker Faire Showcases the Best of DIY Science
LiveScience.com
By Denise Chow, Staff Writer  15 hours ago


(http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/rikwEkU8SkJe9zr4o_hZ.A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTQzMTtweW9mZj0wO3E9ODU7dz01NzU-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/LiveScience.com/maker-faire-soldering.jpg1379796157)
People of all ages learn how to solder at World Maker Faire in New York on Sept. 21, 2013.


 
NEW YORK — The lawns of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park were transformed into a giant fairground today (Sept. 21), but instead of carnival games and dunk tanks, hundreds of tents were set up to show off everything from walking robots to 3D-printed jewelry, as part of a two-day extravaganza that celebrates the best of DIY-science.

Hosted on the grounds of the New York Hall of Science, World Maker Faire returns for its third annual event in Queens, N.Y., this weekend. Thousands of people of all ages showed up today to see some of the most creative homemade projects and learn about the latest technology for at-home inventing.

This year's World Maker Faire featured more than 650 exhibitors, or "makers," and boasted entire sections dedicated to 3D printing, electronics, textiles and robots.

Kids raced miniature homemade cars at the "Nerdy Derby," while some families toiled away inside the Maker Camp tent, putting together LED pins and decorating duct tape wallets. Elsewhere, entire rows of 3D printers buzzed along, creating mini sculptures and pendants seemingly out of thin air.

Long lines of people waited to enter the "Learn to Solder" tent, filled with rows of tables, where attendees could learn the fine art of working with metal.

Inventors paraded around with their robotic creations, which ranged from upright humanoid bots to remote-controlled drones to a robotic dog whose lifelike barks attracted its fair share of attention.

Workshops and demonstrations were held throughout the day, in addition to a slew of invited speakers who wowed audiences with talks on a variety of topics, including 3D printing on the International Space Station, the idea of "hacking" the world around us to make it interactive, and the future of implantable chips or cognitive prosthetics that may one day blur the line between human bodies and devices.

Educational outreach organizations were also on hand to drum up excitement about science, technology and engineering. Among them was the BioBus, a mobile laboratory housed in a school bus that travels to schools and public events to share the wonder of science through the use of microscopes.

"We show people how to operate microscopes, and we give them ideas for some things that they can look at, and we just try to guide them through the discovery and exploration process," said Matt Weisberg, who spent the day taking groups of people onboard the BioBus for short, scientific tours.

Inside, people were able to look through microscopes at tiny, freshwater crustaceans, whose see-through shells exposed all of their internal organs.

For the BioBus team members, events such as Maker Faire, are important ways for them to share their passion for science and discovery.

"A lot of the Maker Faire ethos is about opening your mind to new possibilities, so for us, the possibility of life existing at such levels of detail, and really miniscule natural machinery — we want to expose people to those ideas and get them thinking about how their world could be different," Weisberg told LiveScience.


http://news.yahoo.com/maker-faire-showcases-best-diy-science-025610795.html (http://news.yahoo.com/maker-faire-showcases-best-diy-science-025610795.html)

Title: Re: Maker Faire Showcases the Best of DIY Science
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 22, 2013, 07:53:43 pm

Maker Faire Brings Innovation to Life This Weekend in NYC
LiveScience.com
By Denise Chow, Staff Writer  September 20, 2013 5:34 PM


(http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/5iHpZGNUjKr6nMJf7r1cvA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTM4MjtweW9mZj0wO3E9ODU7dz01NzU-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/LiveScience.com/maker-faire-beaded-spaceship.jpg1368980779)
The maker of a beaded spaceship beckons a passenger inside at Maker Faire in San Mateo, Calif., on May 18, 2013.


 
NEW YORK — The New York Hall of Science is set to become a DIYer's paradise this weekend, as a two-day event dedicated to the celebration of science, technology and innovation kicks off in Queens.

World Maker Faire New York, which is nicknamed "the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth," will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 21-22). The event includes exhibits, panel discussions and workshops on a wide range of topics, including 3D printing, woodworking and building robots.

This will be the third annual Maker Faire held in New York. The event has also made numerous stops in California, Michigan and Texas. [See Photos of Maker Faire Bay Area 2013]

Here are some highlights of the upcoming World Maker Faire New York:

-The Faire's "Learn to Solder" area will give people the opportunity to learn a new, handy skill, or get some more hands-on experience with soldering.

-The 3D Printing Village will have experts on hand, and will showcase demonstrations to inspire new creations from 3D printing enthusiasts.

-The Open Organization of Lockpickers (TOOOL) will teach Faire attendees how to pick any lock in Lockpick Village.

-Skraptacular will demonstrate how to make art from discarded, plastic materials.

-Affine Creations will demonstrate the art of woodworking.

-Attendees can learn how to build an Air Rocket Glider or a fully functional multicopter.

-The National Needlearts Association will be teaching makers of all ages how to knit, crochet, cross-stitch and spin in the Needlearts Zone.

-The Nerdy Derby will give kids of all ages the opportunity to build miniature cars and race them on a specially constructed track.

A compost pile designed and built by Build It Green!NYC, a nonprofit environmental organization, will also be on display at this weekend's Maker Faire.

"Last summer we collected 2,000 pounds of organic waste at World Maker Faire, and we are excited that this year we will be able to process the food scraps at [the New York Hall of Science]," Justin Green, Build It Green!NYC's program director, said in a statement.

Attendees will be able to contribute to the organic waste pile throughout this weekend's event. The New York Hall of Science will maintain the compost heap throughout the year, using fresh soil on the grounds to keep it thriving. The structure is designed to raise awareness about re-using and recycling materials.

Tickets to World Maker Faire New York 2013 are available for purchase online on the event's website: http://makerfairenyc.eventbrite.com (http://makerfairenyc.eventbrite.com). Tickets range in price from $10 to $35 for full-day passes, and can also be purchased at the door on Saturday and Sunday.


http://news.yahoo.com/maker-faire-brings-innovation-life-weekend-nyc-213428765.html (http://news.yahoo.com/maker-faire-brings-innovation-life-weekend-nyc-213428765.html)

Title: Re: Maker Faire Showcases the Best of DIY Science
Post by: Unorthodox on September 23, 2013, 08:33:05 pm

The 3d printer area sounds interesting.