Fab Foundation http://localhost/fabfoundation Fab Labs and personal fabrication around the world Fri, 28 Oct 2016 15:33:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1 Adam Savage, Former Co-Host of “MythBusters” to Visit Pittsburgh Area to Promote Innovation and Making with Support from Chevron and the Fab Foundation http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2016/10/05/adam-savage-former-co-host-of-mythbusters-to-visit-pittsburgh-area-to-promote-innovation-and-making-with-support-from-chevron-and-the-fab-foundation/ Wed, 05 Oct 2016 19:28:22 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=131 Chevron and the Fab Foundation were thrilled to sponsor a visit to Cleveland area Fab Labs and makerspaces by Adam Savage, Former Co-Host of “MythBusters” in order to promote innovation and making.

Sonya Pryor-Jones, the Fab Foundation’s Chief Implementation Officer, was instrumental in arranging the details of the visit which included stops at the Elizabeth Forward School District, the Intermediate Unit 1 Fab Lab, the Carnegie Science Center Fab Lab, Carnegie Mellon’s IDeATe@Hunt, University of Pittsburgh’s Human Engineering Research Laboratories, 7800 Susquehanna, and the Children’s Museum Pittsburgh’s early childhood makerspace.

Charles Mahoney, Sherry Lassiter, Janet Auer, and Don Martin celebrating innovation in STEM education with Adam Savage [center]

Charles Mahoney, Sherry Lassiter, Janet Auer, and Don Martin celebrating innovation in STEM education with Adam Savage [center]

The Fab Foundation is pleased to announce that Adam’s recent visit to Pittsburgh is part of a national tour of 6 Maker Cities in the USA. The tour is designed to visit and document innovation in education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Sponsorship is provided by Chevron, as part of the energy company’s continuing commitment to STEM education. Started in response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy “Maker Initiative,” Mr. Savage aims to engage and excite the communities he visits and then document the tour on video for the entire country to share in the experience via multiple media channels, including Tested.com. He will visit a variety of fab labs, makerspaces, hackerspaces and innovative makers in each community. Stay tuned!

]]>
Inaugural Chevron STEM Education Award Winners Announced at FAB12 http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2016/10/03/inaugural-chevron-stem-education-award-winners-announced-at-fab12/ Mon, 03 Oct 2016 19:33:04 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=134 The Fab Foundation, with support from Chevron, is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Chevron STEM Education Awards, celebrating great educators in Fab Labs around the world.

First place was awarded to Fab Lab El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA, followed by Fab Lab CEPT Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, FabLat Kids, Latin America and the Carnegie Science Center Fab Lab, Pittsburgh, PA, USA rounded out the winners. The Criteria for the award included exceptional programming that demonstrated innovative methods in teaching STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] subjects utilizing the tools of digital fabrication such as CAD design, 3D Printing and microelectronics.

“We’re thrilled to honor educators and Fab Labs that are working at the forefront of STEM through youth outreach and K-12 programming,” says Sherry Lassiter, President of the Fab Foundation. “We greatly value Chevron’s partnership and leadership in these efforts.”

The Chevron STEM Education Award included cash prizes and recognition at Fab12, the annual meeting of the international Fab Lab Network held this year in Shenzhen, China. There are now over 1,000 Fab Labs around the world making the tools of digital fabrication accessible to everyone. While each Fab Lab has its own focus, there is a wide range of STEM education programing at the facilities in schools, colleges, universities, libraries, museums and innovation centers worldwide.

 

“Chevron is proud to support the Fab Foundation to recognize Fab educators who demonstrate their commitment to teaching STEM and foster innovation among students,” said Janet Auer, Advisor, Education and Corporate Programs at Chevron. “Chevron is committed to investing in STEM education to encourage students and community members to be the innovators and makers of the future.”

]]>
Fabbers Honored at White House Week of Making http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2016/06/27/fabbers-honored-at-white-house-week-of-making/ Mon, 27 Jun 2016 19:36:57 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=139 The Fab Foundation is pleased to announce a number of special activities during the National Week of Making held in the United States from June 17 to 23, 2016.

White House Champions of Change

The White House recognized ten individuals as “Champions of Change” in the Making category. The White House says the selection process identified Americans who exhibited “personal passion and tireless efforts to make advances in technology and platforms, educational opportunities, or spaces that empower even more Americans to become tinkerers, inventors, and entrepreneurs”.

The Fab Foundation is thrilled that three of the ten Champions of Change are associated with Fab Labs:

  • Umberto Crenca, co-founder and artistic director of AS220 in Providence, RI
  • Renee Fredericks, director of Youth Education and Employment Services at Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) Fab Lab in Anchorage, Alaska
  • Sonya Pryor-Jones, Chief Implementation Officer at the Fab Foundation

The White House ceremony recognizing the Champions of Change took place on Friday June 17 at 1 p.m. The event featured remarks by U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith and Thomas Kalil, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The program was live-streamed on the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov/live/ and is in the archives.

Capitol Hill Maker Faire

The Capitol Hill Maker Faire featured a day of panel discussions. Fab Foundation Director Sherry Lassiter explored The Future of Making with Dale Dougherty, founder of MAKE: Magazine and Kipp Bradford from the MIT Media Lab. In another panel Donald Martin, IU1 Assistant Executive Director and Fab Lab Coordinator in Grindstone, PA joined a group discussing Making and Education: K-12. For details, go to the Capitol Hill Maker Faire Web page.

Sherry Lassiter speaking at the White House

Sherry Lassiter speaking at the White House

Local Events
Many more events beyond Washington, D.C. happened in communities throughout the country. Thank you everyone for a FABulous National Week of Making!

 

]]>
Fab Foundation Director Sherry Lassiter Keynotes at DigiFabCon April Conference http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2016/05/30/fab-foundation-director-sherry-lassiter-keynotes-at-digifabcon-april-conference/ Mon, 30 May 2016 19:43:23 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=147 Sherry Lassiter, Director of the Fab Foundation, brought her unique perspective of the Fab Lab Network to the opening keynote at DigiFabCon in April at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge.  Having been involved with the development of Fab Labs from the beginning, Sherry shared the Fab Lab Network history and described the exciting current and future projects we are undertaking. Here is the link to the complete presentation.

]]>
Fab News Nov 2015 http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2015/11/01/fab-news-nov-2015/ Sun, 01 Nov 2015 19:47:04 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=149 Wow! We are still recovering from the excitement, frenzy of work, long hours, and fun that was FAB11. This year’s annual meeting of the global Fab Lab Network was exactly what we hoped it would be– a FABulous opportunity to reconnect with old friends, meet new colleagues, learn from each other, hear about new projects and ventures, and explore future directions, a 24-7 feast of all things Digital Fabrication. About 1000 attendees from 78 countries came together at MIT, where it all started, and we’re already looking ahead to FAB12 in China.

Thanks to our great IT and A/V teams there is a wonderful historical archive of the meeting. Please check out the photos and videos on the FAB11 website. Photo credit for much of the FAB11 photography goes to Stanley Rowin who seemed to be everywhere all the time with his camera!

There are so many people to thank, but not enough time and space here to do them justice. Suffice it to say that without the tireless help of so many of you, FAB11 would not have happened! From the many high school students, to the Fab Academy gurus, to the fabbers hosting workshops, to the crazed and incredible Fab Labs that brought their Mobile Fab Labs across the USA to get to FAB11, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You made FAB11 a terrific experience for all. I’d also like to send special thanks to our FABulous Sponsors who went above and beyond, not only by supporting the week of events but also by organizing and participanting in the workshops and activities of the week. And very special thanks to Pamela King and Jean-Luc Pierite from the Fab Foundation for making FAB11 a memorable celebration for one and all.

Everyone agrees that it is the community of incredible people that makes the Fab Lab Network so special. Now that FAB11 is a happy but receding memory, we’ll turn our heads toward wrapping up 2015 with new initiatives that broaden and deepen our very special community.

With a heartfelt thank you to everyone,

Lass

Read Fab News Nov 2015

]]>
Chevron and Intermediate Unit 1 Launch Community Fab Lab to Encourage and Cultivate STEM Education in Southwestern Pennsylvania http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2015/10/30/chevron-and-intermediate-unit-1-launch-community-fab-lab-to-encourage-and-cultivate-stem-education-in-southwestern-pennsylvania/ Fri, 30 Oct 2015 19:51:52 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=155 Mobile Fab Lab to Reach Students in Rural Locations

October 28, 2015 – Coal Center, PA – Chevron andIntermediate Unit 1 (IU1) in coordination with The Fab Foundation announced today the launch of a fabrication lab (Fab Lab) that will serve Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. The IU1 Community Fab Lab will offer a permanent Fab Lab in Coal Center, as well as a mobile Fab Lab, which will give rural community school districts access to mobile technology and equipment that can be set up at their schools.

This digital fabrication workshop is made possible by a portion of Chevron’s $10 million commitment to the Fab Foundation, announced in 2014 at the White House Maker Faire, to build Fab Labs in areas where it operates in the U.S.

The IU1 Community Fab Lab will feature state-of-the-art design and fabrication equipment, such as laser cutters, 3D printers, vinyl cutters and milling machines, which will give students and the broader community unprecedented access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) resources and help build the skills and experience needed to succeed in STEM fields. The Fab Lab will promote innovation and design in the community and will build the local workforce capacity.
In addition to the permanent Fab Lab in Coal Center, a mobile Fab Lab will also be available to serve communities in the areas of Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties. This will provide high-tech equipment and teacher resources that are not often available in rural parts of these counties. The IU1 mobile Fab Lab will help bring these tools out into the community so students can build the skills needed for jobs in STEM and technical fields.

Ensuring our students have the STEM skills necessary to navigate our increasingly technology-reliant world is critical to the U.S. economy. The hands-on learning that will be available at IU1 Fab Lab will help spark an interest in STEM and prepare individuals for the nearly 1 million U.S. jobs that will require basic STEM literacy over the next five years.

“Intermediate Unit 1 is proud to be one of the few organizations selected from around the world to receive both a mobile Fab Lab and a stationary community Fab Lab. Through the Intermediate Unit 1 community Fab Lab and mobile Fab Lab, our organization will continue to be an innovative educational keystone transforming education and learning for the countless students, educators, and community members we serve. We are extremely grateful for the support Chevron and the Fab Foundation have provided throughout this most worthwhile educational endeavor,” said Charles F. Mahoney, Intermediate Unit 1 Executive Director.

The IU1 Community Fab Lab will provide access to resources for the students in the K-12 system, undergraduate students and the community at-large, including skilled staff and volunteers, design and fabrication equipment and access to an international Fab Lab network.
“At Chevron, we understand STEM education is importantto a successful future for our local communities, especially here in Appalachia. We are working with our partners toprovide access to state-of-the-art education and technology resources to equip students with the critical STEM skills needed to fill the jobs of tomorrow, particularlyfor those with limited access to the tools necessary forsuccess in these fields,” said Nigel Hearne, vice president of Chevron Appalachia Michigan Business Unit based in the Pittsburgh area.

Chevron has invested $200 million in education worldwide since 2013.

IU1 is a public educational service agency dedicated to providing quality leadership and services to schools and communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. For more than 15 years, IU1 has developed effective STEM programs and worked to foster education and innovation to prepare its communities for a successful future.

]]>
The Fab Foundation and Chevron Enhance Fab Lab DC to Promote STEM Opportunities in the U.S. http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2015/08/26/the-fab-foundation-and-chevron-enhance-fab-lab-dc-to-promote-stem-opportunities-in-the-u-s/ Wed, 26 Aug 2015 19:53:12 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=158 Washington, D.C. – The Fab Foundation today announced the expansion of a fabrication lab (Fab Lab) in Washington, D.C. made possible by a grant from Chevron that will further spur the creative economy and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Fab Lab DC will include updated features and an improved STEM education program which will provide invaluable opportunities for K-12 students and members of the community to design and invent almost anything they can imagine.

Fab Lab DC, a nonprofit, digital fabrication laboratory open to students and the community, works to advance STEM education, human centered design, collaborative projects and the creative economy which relies on innovative solutions to society’s needs.

Last month, President Obama underscored the importance of STEM education in fostering the innovation and entrepreneurship on which the U.S. economy relies. The hands-on learning that will be available at Fab Lab DC is critical in sparking an interest in STEM and preparing individuals for the nearly 1 million U.S. jobs that will require basic STEM literacy over the next five years.

“We are thrilled to partner with Chevron to expand Fab Lab DC’s offerings to the community,” said Fab Foundation President Sherry Lassiter. “This new facility will give students and teachers access to sophisticated technology and together with Chevron, we’ll carry out our shared mission to empower students in the fields of technology, science and engineering through hands-on learning.”

Like the more than 400 facilities in the Fab Lab Network, Fab Lab DC is centered around a suite of digital fabrication tools and prototyping machines such as laser cutters, 3D Printers, vinyl cutters and milling machines, used for “Making (almost) Anything.” It is the second of 10 Fab Labs that Chevron is bringing to areas where the company operates as a result of its strong commitment to communities and STEM education.

“Investing in STEM is a national imperative to create economic growth and prosperity,” said Linda Padon, general manager of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at Chevron. “Chevron is committed to working with our partners to provide students access to the hands-on learning and technology resources necessary for them to succeed in STEM and become the next generation of innovators.” Chevron has invested $200 million in STEM education worldwide since 2013.

The Fab Foundation supports Fab Labs worldwide in a wide range of projects that foster and accelerate education, innovation, entrepreneurship, business development and community building.

]]>
Fab News May 2015 http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2015/05/01/fab-news-may-2015/ Fri, 01 May 2015 19:55:04 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=161 The first quarter of the year has been filled with preparations for FAB11 in Boston, August 3 – 9, 2015. Below are some of the highlights. For those planning to come to Boston, if you have not yet received your registration code, please email info <<at>> FAB11 <<dot>> org.

Some of the events during the 7 day conference are public, such as the How To Make (almost) Anything Symposium and the weekend Fab Festival. Specifically for Fab Lab affiliates there will be 4 days of talks, workshops and networking at MIT– and space is TIGHT! So please REGISTER right away to be sure you can participate.M

From networking and workshops at MIT to the traditional New England clam bake at the Kennedy Library to the Symposium at Symphony Hall to the metro-area distributed Fab Festival, FAB11 is shaping up to be a FABulous gathering of our community.

We’ll keep you posted on FAB11 news, but check the FAB11 website often for updates!

Fab News 5-26

Lass

]]>
Fab News January 2015 http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2015/01/13/fab-news-january-2015/ Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:57:28 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=164 It’s been a FABulous year for the worldwide Fab Lab Network and the Fab Foundation!  So much has happened thanks to the tireless efforts of this diverse group of committed and creative Fabbers.

From the new STEM collaboration with Chevron and Fab Lab design software contribution from SOLIDWORKS to the White House Maker Faire and the opening of new labs around the world, the growth of the Network is mind-boggling and shows no sign of slowing down!  This first newsletter of 2015 highlights a few cool projects from recent months, along with a heads-up for big initiatives coming in 2015.

Happy New Year! And to every single one of you in the Fab Lab world, thank you for making 2014 truly spectacular!

Please read on here.

Lass

]]>
Fab Labs Putting More Women in the STEM Pipeline http://localhost/fabfoundation/index.php/2014/12/17/fab-labs-putting-more-women-in-the-stem-pipeline/ Wed, 17 Dec 2014 20:02:41 +0000 http://localhost/fabfoundation/?p=167 In collaboration with Chevron, The Atlantic has produced a terrific video on Fab Labs and how they catalyze hands-on learning and mentorship, encouraging and enabling more women to join the STEM pipeline.

Click to view

]]>