Life is what you make of it. And you can make it with paint, fabric, metal, discarded computer parts, LEGO bricks… or you can use a 3D printer. Makers of the world (or at least in the general metropolitan area) united over the weekend at Vancouver Mini Maker Faire and I was there to take it all in for this week’s vlog. It’s not very often that you see so many creative people from so many different disciplines gather under a single roof.
Resident 3D printing expert John Biehler was there at Mini Maker Faire to show me around and tell me about the show. Yes, there were certainly plenty of 3D printers being demonstrated, but the community event really featured a remarkable diversity of talent and interest.
Ever wondered about making ice cream using liquid nitrogen? How about slicing an old PlayStation or cell phone in half to tinker with its internals? Want to learn how to make epic quilts or put together your own Star Wars-themed costumes? There really was something for everyone there.
Yes, on some level, you might say that an event like this definitely leans toward the “nerdy” or “geeky” side, but who’s to say that’s a bad thing? So many of the attendees were children, learning about the many skills, tools and talents that go into making something for yourself. They had the opportunity to design their own buttons, build their own rockets, paint their own art, and even learn how to solder a blinking badge. D-I-Y can be F-U-N.
Just as we want to stress the importance of science literacy among both young people and the population at large, we should also emphasize the intrinsic value and appeal of making (or fixing) something with your own two hands. What do you like to make? What would you like to learn how to make? A tabletop hockey game themed after The Walking Dead, perhaps?
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