Argonne’s Science and Technology Partnerships and Outreach (S&TPO) Directorate is keen to receive feedback from Argonne staff members on their interest in accessing a maker space facility either at Argonne or within easy driving distance of the lab. If there is sufficient interest, S&TPO will investigate options for making such access available for Argonne staff.
Please consider taking a moment to complete a survey that will help S&TPO determine how much interest/need there is among Argonne staff for access to a maker space.
A maker space is a center that provides technology, manufacturing equipment and educational opportunities to a community of people. Some Chicago-area examples are Pumping Station: One, the South Side Hackerspace and Idea Box.
Maker spaces allow community members to design, prototype and manufacture items using tools that would otherwise be inaccessible or unaffordable. Depending on the user community, tools such as 3D printers, digital fabrication machines, CAD software, metal- and wood-working tools and an electronics shop might be available. Maker spaces are typically funded by membership fees or through affiliations with organizations, such as universities, for-profit companies, non-profit organizations or libraries.
The free exchange of ideas and resources is a central tenet of maker spaces. Often, members of different maker spaces will collaborate on projects and share knowledge at gatherings known as build nights or open house days.