Next time you visit the William Robertson Coe Library, drop by the new cutting-edge makerspace lab, named Coe Student Innovation Center, located on Level 2.
“We are open to all members of the university community, from students, faculty and staff, to local kindergarten through grade 12 educators and students,” the center director, Tyler Kerr said.
The center is a joint venture among the University of Wyoming libraries, the Information Technology, and the colleges of Engineering and Applied Science and Education and Arts and Sciences.
The doors are officially opening this month to all audiences on campus, invited guests and groups from the community and region to access the resources available.
“Our goal at the center is to ensure that this space is available free of charge for events, activities, or room use. We hope that you come in and study, create, or tinker whenever you’d like,” Kerr said. “The only thing we charge for is materials. This helps us recoup the cost of consumables like PLA and ABS filament, so we can keep providing you with great service and exciting 3D prints.”
According to the College of Engineering and Applied sciences official website, it is a cutting-edge makerspace lab created to foster imaginative, collaborative, and innovative design projects. It further stated that the college dean, Michael Pishko, hopes that the center will inspire creativity and critical thinking from students of all ages, which is fundamental to producing successful engineers and computer scientists.
At present, the center features four 3D printers, 3D scanning equipment, 3D modeling software, robotics kits, circuitry kits, electrical test equipment, Legos, etc.
The makerspace was designed to encourage and build upon project-based science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics learning at all levels, from kindergarten through college.
“We provide training and workshops on equipment usage, prototyping, and design to all interested members of the UW community, and welcome all tinkerers and creative thinkers,” Kerr said. “Ultimately, the student center seeks to serve as an innovative hub to connect UW students, faculty, and staff to the broader Laramie community.”
According to the University Library official website, the center represents a new mode of library services based on deep and meaningful collaboration with campus partners, and planning to develop collaboration with other units on campus as it moves into implementation of the university’s strategic plan.
“The center was designed to encourage and build upon project-based STEAM learning at all levels, from kindergarten through college,” Kerr said.
Support staff members will provide training and workshops on equipment use, prototyping and design to all interested members of the university community and the center’s staff members encourage visits from all creative thinkers on campus.
“Ultimately, the center seeks to serve as an innovative hub to connect university students, faculty and staff to the broader Laramie community,” Kerr said.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, open to the public, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. Attending guests include the university administrators and donors. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the center will host an open house for all guests interested in participating.
