The Nerdy Derby in action at Maker Works.
What is Maker Works doing at the Maker Faire Detroit this year?
Maker Works, a makerspace in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been at every Maker Faire Detroit so far, and we wouldn’t miss it! In years past we’ve helped with the Learn to Solder activity and demonstrated various tools from our shop. But we’re always on the lookout for fun, new things to bring. This year we’re excited about bringing the Nerdy Derby to Maker Faire Detroit. We’ll have a 30-foot long, three-lane track for racing small cars down, cars that visitors will make and decorate themselves right in our exhibit space. “No rules.” Think the Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby meets Mad Max (and minus the explosions, we hope).
Every clamp in the Maker Works wood shop was put to work getting the Nerdy Derby ready for last month’s Open House at the shop.
Why is participating in Maker Faire Detroit important?
Maker Faires are important because they expose visitors, especially kids, to the fun and power of STEAM–Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Maker Faires, museums, maker meet-ups, and makerspaces all provide opportunities for kids to learn about the world and how they can have an effect by making. They may start off making things to address their own specific wants and needs, but it’s not far from there to figuring out how to meet the wants and needs of others (perhaps for profit–a business!–or to make the world a better place). Maker Faires in particular are extraordinarily inspiring. The creator of that two-story bike over there? She’s not a professional bike builder, just someone who learned to weld and wanted to make something cool. The tiny satellite next to her? Built by amateurs exciting about the possibility of launching their creation into space. One of the best messages of Maker Faire Detroit for us is, “You can make cool things too.”
What do you find most inspiring about Maker Faire Detroit?
The creations of younger people, and the acceptance and celebration of their creativity among the visitors. It really is an appreciative crowd for a young maker to exhibit or demonstrate their creation.
