Latest news with #Makerspace
Bangkok Post
08-08-2025
- Science
- Bangkok Post
FutureEd Fest 2025 Champions Inclusive, AI-Empowered Learning
FutureEd Fest 2025, Thailand's national celebration of education innovation, returns for its third year with a press conference officially launching the event under the bold theme 'AI-Driven, Human-Centred, and Equitable Learning.' Held on 6 August 2025 at Thai PBS and broadcast live nationwide, the press event reinforced a shared mission to co-create a more sustainable, inclusive education system for a rapidly changing world. This year's programme builds on the momentum of previous years with strong collaboration from government agencies, the private sector, universities, and educational networks across the country. The 2025 edition is structured around four key thematic pillars: The keynote, The Future of Learning for All, was delivered by Dr Nanthaporn Prae Seributra, President of Starfish Education Foundation and CEO of Starfish Education. A featured panel, '4 Directions, One Future: Transforming Thai Education with AI and Innovation,' presented diverse perspectives on education reform, including: Equity & Community – Dr Udom Wongsing, Director, Office of Teachers and School Development, Equitable Education Fund Future Skills & Maker – Dr Kritsachai Somsaman, Centre Director, SEAMEO STEM-ED AI-Driven Learning – Mr Nutthapong Chandanasiri, President, Thai Academic Association Human-Centred Teaching – Mr Kompakron Pianon, Darunsikkhalai School The discussion highlighted how these four dimensions—technology, equity, future skills, and human connection—must blend harmoniously to build a resilient, learner-centric system that prepares students for lifelong success. Another highlight was the Maker Fest Showcase, extending the reach of Makerspace projects nationwide. Students from Wat Wimuttayaram School and Darunsikkhalai School presented real-world innovations they developed through problem-based learning. These student-led projects reflect the heart of FutureEd Fest's vision: fostering creativity, agency, and hands-on problem-solving in education. FutureEd Fest 2025 places human-centric and equitable design at the core of its learning philosophy, while leveraging AI to personalise learning and reduce disparities. The event aims to inspire educators, policy-makers, and learners to reimagine education as more adaptive, inclusive, and connected to real life. Key Supporters of FutureEd Fest 2025 include: Google for Education, Starfish Labz, OBEC, Office of the Education Council, OTEPC, BMA, Equitable Education Fund (EEF), Thailand Education Partnership (TEP), Octava Foundation, National Science Museum (NSM), Saturday School Foundation, I Am Kru, Teach For Thailand, TK Park, Like Me X Co., Ltd. (FutureSkill), Thai Astronomical Society, Canva Education, FIBO, Botnoi Group, Future Skills Foundation, Thai PBS, and ALTV (Active Learning Television).
India Today
07-08-2025
- Science
- India Today
Students create next-gen mist guard for smarter, safer cooling anywhere
In a forward-thinking step toward healthier, sustainable cooling for all, a dynamic team from Alliance University's Centre of Excellence Makerspace has created the Smart Mist Guard, a versatile, affordable, and intelligent cooling system designed for everyday spaces and underserved communities. The invention is an outstanding example of student-driven innovation under the thoughtful mentorship of Dr. Harinath Aireddy, Director of cooling solutions often leave much to be desired: fans are basic, air conditioners are costly and energy-intensive, and even conventional mist fans lack automation, wasting water and electricity. Observing these challenges in real community settings, Dr. Aireddy notes, 'The idea for the Smart Mist Guard came from a real-world problem I communities still lack access to intelligent, affordable cooling solutions that also address health concerns.' With his guidance, a diverse group of students and technical officers embarked on a journey to not only bridge this gap but do so with a sustainable, socially relevant INNOVATION The project, led by Dr. Aireddy, is the fruit of dedicated teamwork involving students Marriwada Harshavardhan and Sudhir R for hardware integration, Nanditha D N and Gurramkonda Venkata Sai for software, and technical officers Joel Jaimon (design), Sheshadri K, and Namitha Papishetty (hardware). Together, these young innovators turned an ambitious concept into a fully functional prototype through relentless experimentation, feedback, and iterative Harshavardhan reflects, 'The vision introduced at Makerspace, Alliance University, for a smart, health-conscious cooling system served as a strong source of inspiration for our team. This initiative gave us valuable hands-on project deepened our understanding of how innovation, when rooted in real-world community challenges, can lead to meaningful impact. Contributing to a solution that blends comfort, sustainability, and social relevance has been a truly rewarding experience.'SMART, EFFICIENT AND USER-CENTRICWhat sets the Smart Mist Guard apart? Unlike regular fans or mist coolers, this device uses intelligent sensors to activate only when people are present, adjusting mist delivery to the surrounding temperature and humidity. This not only saves energy and water but also ensures optimal comfort without resource further, the system features built-in mosquito-repellent dispersion a crucial benefit for communities vulnerable to vector-borne diseases-and an odour-detection air-freshening feature for a healthier indoor environment. Accessibility was made a priority; the device can be controlled remotely via a web application, and an intuitive digital display enables easy real-time monitoring and adjustment, ideal for elderly or differently-abled FOR INCLUSION AND IMPACTA defining strength of the Smart Mist Guard is its commitment to affordability. By leveraging clever design and cost-effective components, the team aimed to make smart cooling available to a much wider demographic, including rural homes, clinics, classrooms, and semi-open spaces where traditional AC systems are Dr. Aireddy emphasises, 'Through consistent guidance, technical mentoring, and review sessions, the team successfully transformed the concept into a functional solution. This project stands as a strong example of how purposeful mentorship and student-led innovation can effectively respond to real societal needs.'advertisementThe Smart Mist Guard stands as a testament to Alliance University's ethos of experiential learning, encouraging students to tackle real societal challenges. The project is currently being evaluated for commercialisation, with upgrades underway to make the device even more robust, user-friendly, and ready for widespread use.- Ends
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TEDCO Awards $785,000 to the 2025 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program Awardees
14 Makerspace projects will receive funding to support growth and development COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, announced the 2025 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program ("Makerspace Program") awardees. A total of nearly $785,000 in awards will span across 14 entities located in 9 counties across the state. "Since inception, the Makerspace Program has now provided $2.4 million across 52 awards to entities across the state, supporting the continued growth of Maryland's innovation ecosystem," said Terry Rauh, chief finance and operations officer at TEDCO. "We are hopeful that these 14 awardees will continue to advance the innovation capabilities within their communities." What is the Makerspace Program?Created through legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly, the Makerspace Program provides grants of up to $100,000 and technical assistance for qualified entities looking to establish a new Makerspace, expand an existing Makerspace, or develop Makerspace programming. The goal is to grow a state-wide community of Makerspaces that provides entrepreneurs with access to tools, technologies and knowledge to support their growth and development as well as expand workforce training. "Out of 25 highly competitive applications, we are pleased to announce the support for the 2025 Makerspace Program awardees," said Justin Ferguson, innovation manager for the Venture Development department. "We are excited to see the continued interest in Makerspace growth and development across the state." The 14 awardees for the 2025 Makerspace Program include: Allegany College of Maryland, located in Allegany County Chesapeake Arts Center, located in Anne Arundel County City Life Community Builders, located in Baltimore City Digital Harbor Foundation, Tech Lab, located in Baltimore City Inncuvate Community Development Partners, located in Prince George's County Frederick Makerspace, located in Frederick County Makerspace of Annapolis, located in Anne Arundel County Maryland Assistive Technology Program, located in Baltimore City Players Philanthropy Fund (Code Super Powers), located in Prince George's County Rockville Science Center, located in Montgomery County Salisbury University, Richard Bernstein Makerspace, located in Wicomico County St. Mary's County Library, Lexington Park Branch, located in St. Mary's County The SPACE: Free Art for All (E2Lab), located in Prince George's County Washington College, The Innovation Plant, located in Kent County For more information about TEDCO's Makerspace Program, visit About TEDCOTEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at Media ContactTammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, tthomas@ Kalinyak, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO, rkalinyak@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE TEDCO Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
IIT Indore launches 2 new schools focused on Sustainability and Biomedical engineering
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore has announced the launch of two new academic schools in partnership with the Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF). The two new schools being launched are: Mehta Family School of Sustainability and the Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering. Two major programmes that will be introduced at the undergraduate level include a BTech programmes focusing on medical devices, clinical data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare applications. The other is a BTech programmes in Environmental Economics with Sustainable Engineering. IIT Indore will also introduce postgraduate and PhD programmes. The announcement also comes at a time when over 12.3 lakh candidates appeared for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025, the entry point to engineering programmes in institutes such as IIT Indore. During the signing event, Prof Suhas Joshi, Director of IIT Indore, stated that the Mehta Family School of Sustainability will introduce a first-of-its-kind undergraduate programme by integrating environmental economics with sustainable engineering. The school will also offer three specialised postgraduate and a PhD programme. Students will be trained in a combination of engineering, science, and economics to address complex sustainability challenges. The school has outlined a roadmap to graduate more than 400 students and train over 1,000 professionals through executive master's and doctoral programmes. The academic plan also includes collaboration with industry, government, academia, and civil society to develop a workforce equipped for the sustainability sector. The Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering will offer a new undergraduate programme focused on medical devices, clinical data analytics, and artificial intelligence in healthcare. Three postgraduate programmes are also being launched in the fields of biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and medical devices, in addition to a PhD track. The curriculum combines biology, engineering, and data science, supported by project-based learning, clinical immersion in institutions such as AIIMS Bhopal and MGM Medical College Indore, and access to hands-on facilities like Breakerspace and Makerspace labs. The school aims to train 500 students in the next five years and over 1,500 students within a decade. The Mehta Family Foundation's other initiatives include: –IIT Madras: Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences (established in 2004) –IIT Guwahati: Mehta Family School of Data Science & Al (established in 2020) –IIT Roorkee. Mehta Family School of Data Science & Al (established at 2021) –IIT Guwahati: Jyoti & Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences & Technology (established at 2022) –IIT Kanpur: Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine (established at 2023) –IIT Palakkad: Mehta Family School of Data Science & Al (established 2024) As part of its long-term vision, the biomedical school is also positioning itself as a research hub focused on antimicrobial resistance, including diseases like tuberculosis. It will work in partnership with seven universities across central India. Additionally, a biomanufacturing hub is being planned for central India. This facility will focus on the production of smart proteins, enzyme design, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This aims to serve as a platform for both student training and industry-oriented research and development. The planned biomanufacturing hub will support the development of technologies from mid-level readiness stages, specifically from Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 3 to 7, covering the stages from experimental proof of concept to prototype demonstration in real-world settings. Deepto Banerjee is a journalist at The Indian Express, where he currently works as a Senior Sub-Editor for An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi, he writes extensively on education, study-abroad trends, student affairs, employment and career-related issues and policy, among other things. Prior to joining The Indian Express, Deepto worked at The Times of India, where he covered topics ranging from education and student welfare to educational policies. His previously published work can be found on Outside the newsroom, Deepto takes a keen interest in photography. ... Read More
American Press
30-06-2025
- Science
- American Press
Mobile ‘Makerspace' provides students tools to create, inspire
1/4 Swipe or click to see more Technology Facilitator Meredith Boullion assists students Monday in the Mobile Makerspace Bus. (Emily Burleigh / American Press) 2/4 Swipe or click to see more (Emily Burleigh / American Press) 3/4 Swipe or click to see more (Emily Burleigh / American Press) 4/4 Swipe or click to see more (Emily Burleigh / American Press) The Mobile Makerspace is making sure Calcasieu Parish students have access to STEM education all summer long. The Calcasieu Parish School Board Mobile Makerspace Bus is a repurposed school bus that has been retrofitted with lab space to bring STEM education directly to students. The bus is decked out with technology and resources used to introduce students to high-tech tools and foundational STEM skills. The Mobile Makerspace made a stop at the Donald Ray Stevens Community Center on Monday morning. This stop was the third in a series of stops the Makerspace is making this summer in collaboration with EPIC Adventures by the city of Lake Charles Recreation and Parks Department, an eight-week summer camp hosted by the city. Each week, EPIC Adventures presents campers with a new theme, and this week's theme is 'Party in the USA.' The activity in the Makerspace is tailored to this theme, said Technology Facilitator Meredith Boullion. On Monday, students were tasked to direct a KaiBot — a small coding robot that uses Blockly or Python coding — to different landmarks in the United States with cards that represent blocks of code. This is a form of offline coding, which doesn't require technology like an iPad or computer. By solidifying their understanding of the pre-coding skills through tactile engagement, the students become more equipped to understand more advanced coding techniques and languages. 'If you were to do block coding, the block is just like a sentence in a language. The cards represent the block coding, so they understand sequencing,' she explained. 'They understand the process of coding devices — loops, conditionals, all the things that they need. The language is built into the cards.' The Mobile Makerspace was created last year after five years of planning by Calcasieu Parish School Board Chief Technology Officer Kim Leblanc with the goal to enhance teachers' curriculum with hands-on, tech-integrated lessons. 'Connecting to the curriculum is key,' Bouillon said. Teachers can request a bus visit or plan field trips to the technology labs for Makerspace experiences that are customized to their lesson plans, which are often already integrated with technology skills. The Makerspace provides additional support that prompts coding, critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills, she said. The Makerspace is mobile and available to every grade level to increase students' accessibility to technology education, because coding is a skillset that is becoming more and more necessary. Coding became a language recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education in 2022, and as artificial intelligence (AI) integrates into daily life, students must gain a fundamental understanding of coding, she said. The dynamic hands-on STEM activities engage the students, and the facilitators on the Mobile Makerspace are no strangers to a lightbulb moment. 'Ultimately, if you walked around right now, there'd be a couple kids who just get it and they just run with it. And it's so exciting to us because we see it,' she said. 'It's a spark that's lit, and that's really what we wanted to do. We wanted to light the spark.' Gillis Extended Day and Dolby Extended Day were visited earlier this month, and the Makerspace will stop by the Henry Heights Community Center on Thursday, July 3. It will also be at Vinton Middle STEM Camp on July 22 and E.K. Key Extended Day on July 24.
