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Submitted by ColonyL on
News Release:
Release - Fab Lab Network Symposium

Gateway Technical College will host the United States Fab Lab Network Symposium 2015, featuring keynote speakers Congressman Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Dr. Neil Gershenfeld of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Bits and Atoms.

The college will host the USFLN event March 23-March 25 at its SC Johnson integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center in Sturtevant, Wis.

This year’s theme will focus on the growth of Fab Labs and provide attendees with two days of workshops, speakers and demonstrations focused on innovation and making FabLabs financially sustainable.

For more information on the symposium, or to register, go to http://usfln.org/symposium/

Some of the other features include:

  • A start-up workshop providing insights on how to successfully get a FabLab up and running
  • Leveraging the resources of a FabLab for entrepreneurs
  • Incorporating FabLabs into educational programs
  • Innovative equipment demonstrations
  • An “ignite” best-practices of FabLabs showcase
  • Networking with other FabLab coordinators
  • An attendee driven “UnConference” session
  • 3D printing and how it is used in technology and business
  • High school FabLab curriculum
  •  Working with intellectual property

In addition, the symposium will focus on how FabLabs can reach out to schools to provide learning opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math – often called STEM education – which Gateway and other FabLabs have done with success.

“Many FabLabs are bringing STEM education to middle school and high school classrooms,” says USFLN board member and Gateway FabLab coordinator Greg Herker. “Many times, schools simply don’t have the resources to do that – but a FabLab does. Working together brings relevancy and a ‘wow’ factor to STEM and technical education for educators in those grades.”

There will also be several hands-on demonstrations of innovative FabLab equipment.

For more information, please contact Greg Herker, USFLN communications director and board member at (262) 898-7430, herkerg@gtc.edu.