Kristen Cheser
Staff Writer
Challenging gender stereotypes, MakeHERspace provides an environment for women to dabble in technology Dec. 9 to learn how to make e-textiles.
All women students are invited to join MakeHERspace for free from 6 to 9 p.m. Snacks and materials will be provided, and will be at the Coe Student Innovation Center in room 233.
“The event empowers women by eliminating the potential for women to opt out due to traditional gender stereotypes associated with STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] learning and making,” said Jane Crayton, the event organizer of MakeHERspace, grant writer for MakeHERspace and COE Makerspace Coordinator.
Crayton said the stereotypes have made women feel unwelcome to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Other STEM orientated programs directed at “pinkifying” the programs further harsh stereotypes and confined gender roles.
“We recommend women and those who identify as women to participate in the events,” Crayton said. “Especially those who do not feel comfortable in STEM and who may opt out of a co-gendered learning environment. Many women when in the presence of men, let the men take over the STEM parts and often default to design and art or more gender specific rolls around cleaning and care of others.”
MakeHerspace seeks to provide opportunities for women to enter the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics through the four events they host where women can take part in special projects.
“No experience is necessary, all the tools, materials and instruction will be provided,” Crayton said.
Monday, women can learn about sewing and building circuits to create e-textiles. The e-textiles made in this event will be a light-emitting diode (LED) pin and and LED scarf, both of which light up.
“E-textiles are electronic textiles, which are sewable electronics, combining the traditional craft processes of sewing, fashion design and textile design with electrical engineering, computer science and hardware sills,” Crayton said.
Everybody who attends will be provided with a Lilypad kit.
“LilyPad is the brand of e-textiles we are using for this project,” Crayton said, “created by Leah Buechley during her time at CU Boulder and MIT and was launched in collaboration with SparkFun Electronics.”
At the event, women will be able to learn about circuits and conductive threads and put it into use in the illuminated pin and scarves that can be made. Women will also learn about how parallel and series circuits are important to creating these e-textiles.
“Circuit is a complete electrical network with a closed loop giving a return path for the current. Conductive Thread is a specialty thread made with stainless steel fibers. It can be used instead of copper wiring to connect e-textile components together to create a circuit,” Crayton said.
“Parallel Circuit distributes the same amount of power to each component in a parallel design. Series Circuit only has one path which the current can flow, all components share the same current, however the first component get the majority of the power and less power voltage is distributed to each following component,” she continued.
The event is open to all women no matter their prior experience in working with technology
