Upcycling Old Phones with Rephone
RAS2026-04-29T17:30:00+00:00Once upon a time, hardware projects were difficult: you had to learn low-level aspects of micro controllers, programming, electronic circuits, and at least the basics of battery power management (which are still worth learning). But times have changed and now the hardware required for certain projects are so ubiquitous that a lot of very powerful, fully capable systems are sitting in drawers collecting dust. I’m talking about old phones. While old phone upcycling projects have been...
April 29, 2026RASUncategorizedEducation, Maker News, phone, reuse, smartphone, sustainability, Technology, upcycle, Upcycling0 Comments
When Jewelry Glows: The Art and Science of Wearable Light
RAS2026-04-20T15:30:00+00:00What if your necklace pulsed with your heartbeat? What if your ring glowed a different color depending on who was nearby? At Maker Faire Bay Area, Charlyn Gonda invited us to imagine and build. Charlyn Gonda occupies a rare intersection: she is simultaneously a maker, a coder, and a jewelry artist. Her talk at last year’s Maker Faire Bay Area wove all three identities together into a presentation as layered and luminous as her creations themselves. The central argument...
April 20, 2026RASUncategorizedCraft & Design, Crafts, Education, Electronics, leds, Maker Faire, maker faire bay area0 Comments
Innovative Design and Collaboration at Game On.
RAS2026-03-31T00:19:36+00:00In the world of experiential entertainment, few concepts have captured the imagination quite like escape rooms. But James Hopkin and Eric Mittler, the creative minds behind Game On in Berkeley, California, are pushing the boundaries of what these immersive environments can be. Rather than static, one-time experiences, Game On offers a cooperative challenge center that thrives on evolution, iteration, and the liberating power of failure. At the heart of Game On’s design philosophy is a simple but powerful idea:...
March 31, 2026RASUncategorizedBay Area Maker Faire, Education, Fun & Games, games, interactive, Maker Faire, Technology0 Comments
Beyond the Shortcut: How Generative AI is Reshaping Engineering Education
RAS2026-03-09T16:41:58+00:00At the Maker Faire Bay Area last September, a crucial conversation took place, the Role of Generative AI in Engineering Education; Microchip’s Senior Engineer, Ross Satchell dove into the double-edged sword that is artificial intelligence. We’ve all seen the headlines: AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot can write code in seconds, and ChatGPT can explain complex concepts like a personal tutor. Satchell’s talk acknowledged this incredible potential, highlighting how generative AI can accelerate learning and boost productivity like never before....
March 9, 2026RASUncategorizedAI, Artificial Intelligence, Education, engineering, Maker Faire, Technology0 Comments
Growing the Future: Fungal Materials for Earth and Space
RAS2026-03-03T01:04:00+00:00A Maker Faire Bay Area Talk with Rachel Linzer and Rolando Perez What if the key to solving some of our biggest global challenges—from sustainable fashion to building housing—lies right beneath our feet? Rachel Linzer and Rolando Perez of Open Fung took the stage to explore this very question. OpenFung is a unique nonprofit led by a scientist and an artist, building accessible tools for applied mycology. Their mission? To democratize the magic of mushrooms. As they...
March 3, 2026RASUncategorizedBiology, Education, fungus, Maker Faire, maker faire bay area, Science0 Comments
Identifying Lost LEGO Sets with LEGO Master Builder, Sam Suksiri
RAS2026-02-24T03:19:47+00:00We’ve all been there. You find a bin of LEGO bricks at a flea market or dig out your old collection from the attic. Inside is a peculiar piece—a wing-shaped thing, a printed tile with a faded logo. The question: Where did this come from? At Maker Faire Bay Area 2025, Sam Suksiri—a comedian and former LEGO Master Model Builder—showed attendees that every brick has a story. From Master Builder to Master Detective As a former Master Model Builder at...
How One Illinois District Keeps Its School Maker Faire Alive
RAS2026-02-11T06:42:45+00:00What does a decade of dedicated makerspace programming in a public school district look like? Recently, we talked with Dain Elman, the Instructional Coach for STEM, makerspace teacher, and School Maker Faire coordinator at Gurnee District 56 Schools, about an hour north of Chicago near(ish) the Western shore of Lake Michigan. Gurnee District 56 is as unique as anywhere, but has many qualities that make it emblematic of other suburban school districts across the country. Its roughly 1800 students attend...
It’s Always the “Season of Making” in Hammond
RAS2026-02-10T05:58:52+00:00School City of Hammond, a school district just south of Chicago on the Illinois border, launched its first Maker-Faire to come together and celebrate the skills of students and staff. The theme was to celebrate a season of making to welcome in the holiday and winter season and provide an opportunity for the community to purchase holiday themed student-made crafts. The event provided a unique platform for students to test their entrepreneurial spirits, allowing them to market their creations, manage...
Flying High: Using Drones to Inspire the Future Leaders of STEM
RAS2026-02-10T00:13:07+00:00Have you ever seen a drone flying and wondered who designed it? How would you feel if that designer was a child? How would you feel if your drone flight inspired a young girl to love STEM? This is Elaine’s and her team’s goal. Elaine has been working as a research and development, QA Chemist with regulatory knowledge for 10 years. She fell into science education through informal STEM instruction, eventually making the transition into formal education. Elaine has...
February 10, 2026RASUncategorizedDrones, Drones & Vehicles, Education, Maker Faire, Science, steam, STEM, young makers0 Comments
