FabLab Belfast brought it’s ‘pop-up’ Digital Fabrication Laboratory to a Yr 8 students to two schools from Belfast so they can get grips with exciting technologies first hand.  

The FabLab Team visited Newtownbreda High school and were joined by St Josephs’ school students on the 21st and 22nd of November, creating two days of cross community fun.

Yr 8 Students got hands first hand experience FabLab’s Laser Cutters, 3D printers,  Vinyl Cutting and radio controlled robots.  They will learn about design software and computers are used to control manufacturing machines to build objects and bring home personaised bag tags, vinyl stickers and leog bricks! Students are also using these skills to create four large pieces of vsual art exploring what they have in common as young people.  Teams also played robot football with remote controlled football playing robots scoring goals with a 3D printed football.

Adam Wallace FabLab Belfast Manager said:  ‘’This is a great opportunity for young people to be introduced to changes digital fabrication is making to the way we design and create objects.  FabLab encourages young people to engage with technology in an enjoyable and creative way, many of whom do not have access to machines such as 3D printers and Laser cutters.’’ 

This event also introduced STEAM (Science Technology Arts Engineering & Maths) in the curriculum as an exciting way to discover and inspire young peoples’ creativity in these areas.  FabLab's STEAM programme has been working with schools across Northern Ireland facilitating curriculum linked and promoting cross community activity.  It is hoped that this type of activity is designed inspire a next generation of school students to get innovative with deaign, art and technology.