People of all ages celebrated creativity and technology at the first ever Monash Mini Maker Faire at Monash University, Clayton.
The event on 1 December saw around 3500 attendees engaged in arts, crafts, science and technology with 56 ‘makers’ providing a wide range of demonstrations and showcasing their products and skills.
A partnership between Monash Council and Monash Tech School, the Maker Faire is a licenced global collaborative program that inspires and engages the Maker Community to create, celebrate and connect.
Monash Mayor Stuart James said it was fantastic to see so many people interested in cutting edge technology and creative activities.
“As the largest employer outside the CBD, Monash is an important area for innovation, education and employment and the Maker Faire is the perfect way to showcase what’s on offer in our municipality – and Monash University was the perfect place to do this,” Cr James said.
The activities included forging and metalsmithing, sewing, card-making and floral art, virtual and augmented-reality experiences, robotics, electronics and coding.
Particularly popular was the ‘sauce-bot’ – a robot that dispensed sauce – strategically placed near a sausage sizzle fundraiser.
Glen Waverley-based Wilson Transformer Company, provided sponsorship for the Solar Buddy program that allowed visitors to get hands on and build a solar light that will be donated to students in developing communities where the lack of safe lighting hampers health and education outcomes.
Monash Mini Maker Faire was supported by Monash University, with sponsorship also provided by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), Monash-based firms Agilent Technologies and Arconic. Buses were provided by CDC Victoria to connect visitors from Huntingdale Station to the event.
Plans are already underway for another Maker Faire in Monash in 2020.
