University of La Verne to Host Mini Maker Fair

Christopher Ortiz gravitated toward gizmos as a child.

He dismantled a PlayStation Portable device after playing a few games so he could see each screw, wire and gear to figure out how the PSP worked.

“In doing so, I broke the device, but learned a lot about it,” the computer science major said.

Ortiz, who later repaired the PSP, found himself hooked on building after that experience.

Students, faculty, staff and community members will come together in that same spirit for the University of La Verne’s inaugural Mini Maker Fair on April 11 at the Wilson Library from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Maker Movement describes the growing trend of people choosing to build their own technology products, art, crafts or other items rather than relying on consumerism. President Barack Obama in June 2014 hosted a maker fair at the White House and invited people of all ages to hold similar events to celebrate ingenuity.

University Librarian Vinaya Tripuraneni said the idea for hosting a fair came from the popularity of the library’s 3-D printer, which has been used to print everything from cell phone cases to fossils.

The library purchased the printer in August. Dr. Kanya Godde, assistant professor of anthropology, has used it for her classes.

“The 3-D printer in the library has proven highly important for printing new fossil finds and other casts of interest for students to train and experience,” she said.

The Maker Movement has grown on campus, with Ortiz taking the reins of the University’s LeoMaker Club this year. He and other members plan to work together on various projects and hold workshops on campus to help increase membership.

Up for grabs at the fair are three $500 prizes – a “Best Table” award open to all exhibitors and two awards for a “Shark Tank” style competition for students, one for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) project, and one that is not related to STEM.

Shark Tank is a reality show where would-be entrepreneurs present ideas to venture capitalists. Funding for the prizes came from Fred Baumann, founder and president of HiRel Connectors in Claremont, and the library.

“We are encouraging participants to make it as interactive as possible by showing people how to make something,” Tripuraneni said.

The competition is open to woodworkers, artists, Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts, crafters, technology enthusiasts, scientists and other makers. Ortiz plans to enter a small robotic droid, inspired by a prop he saw on Disneyland’s Star Tours ride. He’s also sharing a presentation on the impact viruses have on computers. He’s using sheet metal, servomotors, a microcontroller board and other items to assemble the droid.

“What I would like to accomplish with it is giving it the ability to have small chats with people and find some meaningful purpose for it,” he said.

Registration deadline for the event is March 21. Register here.