Makers from across the city will be treated to a mega festival on March 10 at the American International School Chennai (AISC). Hosted by the Technology Department of the school, Maker Carnival will include a wide range of makers, including engineers, crafters, artists, tinkerers, hobbyists and science clubs, thereby giving them a platform for individuals and companies to exhibit their products and inventions.
Kirsten Welbes, Director of Advancement, AISC says, "Over the last few years, we had created a number of making spaces on campus. Some of our younger students had recycled materials that could be used to solve problems, we had more sophisticated technology like 3D printers by our secondary school students and so we've been talking about having some sort of a maker fair for a while, to bring people who make things together, people who could think about society, common issues faced by people and then design solutions for them."
The school also runs smaller events called 'Design Saturday' for students and their parents. But this will be a much larger event that is open to everyone. "We have companies that are coming to campus, like Vaya, a design company and some other design companies. We also have a whole bunch of local makers - there's a group of underprivileged kids who will showcase their jewellery. Scholastic Books will display books on invention and making. We will also have a couple of workshops and activities and food stalls," says Kirsten.
Some of the other categories include solar energy, crafting skills, science projects, skin care using recycled materials, robotics and accessories. "We're trying to emphasize on engagement with the audience. The carnival is open to anyone, with no specific age restriction. There's something to do for people of all age groups. We are a school, and we're trying to make it as student-friendly as possible," Kirsten adds.
Details can be found here
