On August 6, 2016 the IU1 Fab Lab made the long journey to Shenzhen, China to represent southwestern Pennsylvania at the Fab 12 conference. Each year the Fab Foundation hosts an annual conference where over 1,000 Fab Lab members from around the world gather to share, collaborate, explore, and fabricate. The focus of this years’ conference was on “Fabricating the Future” and was held in Shenzhen, China a historically important city for manufacturing and making. Shenzhen, known as the Maker City in China, is a vibrant and innovative city and is leading the way in innovation, entrepreneurship, industrial design, and the maker movement in China.
Over the seven-day conference, IU1 had the chance to learn from Fab Labs all around the world including Japan, Brazil, London, and many more discussing experiences, educational opportunities, and best practices. Fab 12 provided attendees with the opportunity to garner new ideas as well as collaborate with Fab Labs stationed in big cities, rural areas, schools and more, which allowed for all attendees to see how each lab may be different, but each had similar goals to educate community members and youth on digital fabrication. As for the IU1 Fab Lab it was impressive to hear from Fab Lab’s, such as Japan, and see how their Fab Lab goals in serving their community, educators, and students we so alike to the goals of the IU1 Fab Lab.
The week of the Fab 12 conference was filled with daily sessions where attendees could choose sessions of interest ranging from obtaining new partners, how to build a 3D printer, and tours of local innovative businesses. Over the weekend a Fab Festival was held for everyone to gather and see projects, new digital fabricating equipment, and experience the wonder of making.
The journey to Shenzhen and the Fab 12 conference was an unforgettable experience filled with new opportunities and even greater possibilities for the IU1 Fab Lab. The IU1 Fab Lab is honored to be considered a part of the Fab Lab Network and the Chevron Fab Labs as we represented our three counties all the way over in China at the Fab 12 conference. IU1 is looking forward to the next step in our Fab Lab journey in expanding our reach and impacting even more educators, community members, and students in the years to come.