The National Maker Faire aims to celebrate all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math through do-it-yourself and do-it-with-others projects and fun.
Part science fair, part county festival, part 21st-century technology convention, the National Maker Faire will bring together “makers” of all ages—crafters, educators, tinkerers, and hobbyists—to promote and spur invention, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Coinciding with the White House “Week of Making,” the National Maker Faire runs June 12-13 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the University of the District of Columbia. It aims to celebrate all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math through do-it-yourself and do-it-with-others projects and fun. The event is best experienced live, as it features hands-on activities and exhibits that are better seen in person than described in writing.
One of the must-see exhibits at this year’s National Maker Faire is the 3D-printed car that will be on display at the U.S. Department of Energy’s interactive exhibit space. The newly printed 3D car, which was created at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and was first publicly shown earlier this year in Detroit, is an all-electric vehicle that’s been called a "laboratory on wheels." The car, whose design is based off of the 1965 Shelby Cobra, showcases the capabilities of 3D printing and advanced electric vehicles technology. (Click here to read more about the 3D car and see pictures and video of it on the road.)
In addition to the 3D-printed Shelby Cobra car, the DOE exhibit will also include hands-on activities and take-home fun for the family, including:
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Build a Pizza Box Solar Oven: Turn pizza delivery into energy literacy and science education by making your own solar cell.
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Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education: Energy 101 books, available in English and Spanish translations, for kids to learn about the nature and role of energy in the world and our daily lives.
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Get Current: Switch on Clean Energy Coloring Books: Coloring books to help kindergarten through fourth-grade students learn about renewable energies such as wind, water, and solar, as well as energy-efficient habits to practice at home.
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Energy Cycle: Participants create their own energy on a bicycle to power light bulbs and learn about the circuitry involved in the energy transformation.
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Electrolyzer Fuel Cell System: Watch electricity split water molecules into pure oxygen and pure hydrogen; in the fuel cell, the hydrogen is re-united with oxygen, creating water and clean electricity.
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Green Button: The Green Button Initiative is for families who like to save energy and, thus, save money. By accessing your own Green Button energy usage data, you are empowering yourself with control over your energy bills with cool Green Button apps like these:
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UnPlug Stuff: The UnPlug Stuff app tells you how much energy your home is wasting when you’re not looking.
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eLite Power Use Planner: You can download your energy usage data and review the cleanest and dirtiest times to use electricity based on your zip code.
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PlottWatt: Learn more about your individual appliance usage, receive personalized recommendations and set up alerts for abnormal usage.
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…and if you feel like getting a bit more industrial, there are Green Button apps for buildings, like EnergyAI.
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In addition to showing the geographic diversity of making across the United States, this National Maker Faire will showcase diversity among makers, with representation from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other federal agencies and departments.
If you are curious about science and technology, enjoy learning, and love to make things, the National Maker Faire is the place for you.
Share your favorite energy-related exhibits and photos with DOE. Tweet your National Maker Faire photos and energy fun to @ENERGY with the hashtag #EnergyMakerFaire.
Read the White House fact sheet on the National Makers Faire here.
A young attendee rides the energy-generating bicycle at the National Makers Faire on June 12, 2015.
A close up of the 3D printed Shelby Cobra, on display at the National Makers Faire on June 12, 2015
Megan Smith, Chief Technology Officer of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, visited the 3D printed Shelby Cobra at DOE's booth at the National Makers Faire on Friday, June 12, 2015
