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