Meet a Maker: Liz McFarland and CRASH Space
Apr 4, 2024
AAs excitement builds for the upcoming Los Angeles Maker Faire, one participant in particular is gearing up to inspire and captivate attendees: Liz Mc
We had fun!
This was ou
r very first DTLA Mini Maker Faire and we had lots of questions on The Big Day:
“How will it go?”
“Will anyone show up?”
“Will we survive the day?”
It turned out great! Our Makers were super-friendly and cool, their projects were amazing, lots of people came, and a good time was had by all. YAY!!!!! Thanks so much for your support.
Stay tuned for the date of the 2017 DTLA Mini Maker Faire!
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Do you Make things?
Or tinker/create/innovate?
Sign up to participate in our Faire!!
There is still room for folks, young and old, to show off their amazing creations. It’s free – and we will give you yummy snacks and caffeine to keep your energy up during the Faire.
But hurry – registration to be a Maker ends November 27.
Bubbly Bubbles That Keep You Company
The DTLA Mini-Maker Faire is excited to announce that Bubble Mania and Company will be joining us at Central Library on December 3, 2016! Performances will be at 11:30 am and 1 pm in the Taper Auditorium.
*imagine bubbles*
Bubble Mania and Company strives on engaging young minds with science by allowing them to explore and become curious about the world around them—with bubbles! Their presentations encompass “soap bubble creations that mesmerize the audience with seemingly impossible creations of shimmering, wiggling reflections of light, color and flowing liquid motion, of all shapes and sizes.” They are recognized for challenging myths and misconceptions about the universe by using laws or principles of physics, geometry and chemistry.
Come join the fun and get to meet a “bubbleologist!” I promise you, there will be bubbles, and lots of them.
Iridescent (luminous, glittering, dazzling) Learning
ir·i·des·cent
/ˌirəˈdes(ə)nt/
adjective
showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.
synonyms: luminous, glittering, dazzling
The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) is thrilled to announce that Iridescent will also be at this year’s DTLA Mini-Maker Faire. Iridescent is a leading science and engineering education (STEM) non-profit that inspires and equips underserved young people to solve big problems. Through both their Curiosity Machine and Technovation programs, Iridescent is proud to say they have served more than 60, 000 participants.
Curiosity Machine’s focus is empowering young minds to develop problem solving skills through hands-on design and engineering projects, such as building a crane that uses simple machines and mechanical advantage to move heavy objects, or creating a circuit that has no metal wires and uses at least three different conductors. Their open-ended design challenges can be built using simple, recycled, and inexpensive materials. Children, young people and parents learn how to apply the engineering design process, and in doing so, develop curiosity, creativity and perseverance through the many challenges and activities on the Curiosity Machine (CM) platform.
Iridescent believes in the importance of promoting STEM related activities and diverse topics to develop 21st century learning skills in young people. On October 28, 2016, Iridescent’s very own CEO and founder, Tara Chklovski, spoke at The White House’s Conference for Inclusive STEAM Education for Youth of Color. In addition to partnering with LAPL, Iridescent also partners with organizations all over the United States including the Chicago Public Library System, Boeing, and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
They really are making STEM more luminous, glittery, and dazzling for our communities worldwide! We are excited to see what they have to share with us at the 2016 DTLA Mini-Maker Faire.
For more information about them, check out their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKdGDVDRGeY&feature=youtu.be
LA Makerspace: Making Makers Make
The DTLA Mini-Maker Faire, hosted at the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), is excited to have LA Makerspace join us this December 3, 2016. L.A. Makerspace is a group of makers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and academics whose goal is to make hands-on STEAM learning opportunities for L.A.’s kids.
What makes LA Makerspace so significant to this year’s Faire is that they focus on developing lifelong skills that are relatable to many aspects of an individual’s life. As they explain: “We’re super excited about Maker learning, because you don’t just learn STEAM skills—You also learn (and most importantly, practice) a way of problem-solving that you can use in school, in life, and for fun!”
Adults are not the only ones that get to educate and teach. Some of LA Makerspace’s facilitators are kids themselves! With Coding Crew, children ages 11 and up can teach programming language to other kids. If interested, or to have Coding Crew come to your group, visit us here.
LA Makerspace is all about providing STEAM support and advice to all those who seek it. Their founder, Tara Tiger Brown, has given advice to the White House about Making for families! She shares her personal goals and reasons for why Making is so important for our communities. Read more here.
Recently, one of their first alumna, Gemma Busoni, appeared on NBC news for her amazing work in virtual reality. The news article titled, “Meet 3 Latinas Leading in Virtual and Augmented Reality,” shares how Busoni is breaking barriers in the STEAM field as the head of Community at Discovr Labs, and as a mentor.
We are honored to have LA Makerspace be a part of this year’s DTLA Mini-Maker Faire, and we are excited to see what they have in store for everyone!
Check out one of their cool training videos with Librarians at LAPL: