By Jade Myers/campus editor
“Makers,” or people who combine different skills to create something new, will show anything ranging from 3D printing, metal working and coding during TR Campus’ two-day FabNow conference.
“There are so many iterations of making that I think people would be shocked to learn that some of you are already makers and you just don’t know it,” said Danelle Toups, TR library services assistant director.
These skills could be more technological, like hacking and coding, or they could be more on the art side, like sculpting or sewing.
“We’ll have everything from makers who are amateurs showing off what they are doing to Mouser [Electronics] Corp. or PolyPrinter showing off their latest 3D-printing equipment,” TR humanities dean Scott Robinson said.
3D printing is considered a maker skill because it combines technology with art. But making culture covers much more.
“I think too many people think it’s just 3D printing or it’s just computers, and it’s really not,” Toups said. “It’s all the way from sewing and crafting and sculpting and art. It’s everything.”
On Feb. 15, the convention is geared more towards anyone interested in making their own makerspaces.
“The idea being we really want to educate TCC faculty and staff about how making can be part of our everyday culture as we’re moving forward with learning commons and makerspaces,” Toups said.
On Feb. 16, the convention will include an expo and an Appathon that is just for TCC students.
“We’re going to have some guest presenters there who have actually created a[n app] business,” Toups said. “And they’re going to be there to give some tips and pointers. They will also be judging the top three apps developed that day.”
The expo is for anyone in the community, so family and friends are welcome to register for it.
“It’s very family-oriented. We have families that come back every year,” Robinson said.
“The adults have fun playing with stuff that’s at the expo, and there’s always stuff for the kids to do too.”
TR associate art professor Janae Corrado invited a few artists who plan to show their maker skills such as wood working to create sculptures and metal working to create jewelry.
TR is working towards getting a makerspace on campus students could use for class or personal projects because a lot of makers usually work in their own in garages or workshops at their own homes, isolated from other makers.
These makerspaces have been popping up at schools and public libraries. And they’re not all the same and are usually equipped differently for people to use things like 3D printers, quilting equipment or sound-editing equipment.
“Makerspaces brings all those people together where they learn from each other,” Toups said. “They’re inspired by each other. They come up with things that never could have been invented before when they were off on their own.”
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 15-16
TR Campus Cafe
and TRTR 4202.
Register at http://www.tccd.edu/fabnow
