Science & Technology

University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering to host inaugural Pensacola Mini Maker Faire

The University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering will host the inaugural Pensacola Mini Maker Faire in downtown Pensacola. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 and features more than 75 creative makers alongside their work, including performances, crafts, exhibits and hands-on workshops. The application for makers is open through Tuesday, Oct. 15.

UWF students and professor at Pensacola Maker Faire 2018

The Maker Faire originated in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area as a project of the editors of Make: magazine. There are currently more than 200 Maker Faires around the world that promote innovation and creativity within communities. After an increased interest from both UWF mechanical engineering and art students, the process of bringing the Maker Faire to Pensacola began. The Pensacola Mini Maker Faire encourages hands-on activities for all ages to explore art, science, engineering, crafting and more.

“The editors of Make: magazine started something unique and inspirational with the Maker Faire, and the community here in Pensacola is the perfect audience for this creative and engaging event,” said Dr. Jaromy Kuhl, dean of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. “The event will feature amazing speakers from the HMCSE Great Minds Distinguished Lecture Series and incredible students projects, such as Baja vehicle demonstrations, robots, performers and 3D printing.”

Jane McGonigal, director of game research and development for the Institute of the Future, is the event’s featured speaker. A world-renowned creator of games, she designs games that solve real problems such as depression, anxiety and traumatic brain injury. Additionally, she is the author of two New York Times Best sellers. Her work has received praise from Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and MIT Technology Review and she has presented original TED talks that have more than 10 million views. McGonigal said the Maker Faire is a gathering of creative people who are eager in sharing new ideas that change the world.

“I’m so excited to speak at the Pensacola Maker Faire this year about how we all can make a better world with games,” McGonigal said. “I hope to provide  surprising ideas and empower people to create new things that can really make a difference in the world. We can do this using the same strengths we practice and grow by playing our favorite video games, whether that’s Pokemon Go, Minecraft, Fortnite or Tetris.”

Presenting partners of the event include: Sea3D Lab; the UWF College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship; the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; and UWF Historic Trust. Sponsors of the event include: Visit Pensacola; Pensacola State College; The Marketing Bar; West Florida Public Libraries; Pensacola MESS Hall; WUWF; and Make: magazine.

For more information or to register as a maker, visit pensacola.makerfaire.com.