DeKALB- DeKalb Makers gathered at Fatty’s Pub and Grill, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway Wednesday evening to listen to STEM professionals on the growing community of shared innovations, tools and workspaces in their industry.

PURPOSE

For Judith Dymond of Sugar Grove, associate with NIU STEM Outreach and chief coordinator and organizer for STEM Cafes, these events serve the public in the interest of new and exciting scientific research. Her main concern is circulating the focus of these gatherings throughout areas beyond DeKalb, holding events in Naperville, Rockford, St. Charles, and beyond.

Dymond emphasized the importance of representing the diverse Makers she has come into contact with at such events.

DeKalb resident Kathy Goshko said she appreciated the opportunity this event gave her to share information, gain insight, and network with fellow DeKalb Makers.

While attendees sampled drinks on tap and traditional bar fare, three speakers spoke of their own experiences in the Maker movement. A question and answer forum was held, in which attendees shared their own perspectives on matters such as 3D printing, the promotion of lateral thinking in K-12 audiences, and the availability of community resources in conjunction with the ongoing Maker movement promoted by NIU Stem Outreach.

As the event slowed down, t-shirts and gift cards were raffled off, while speaker Dr. Sciammarella displayed and demonstrated the use of a 3D printer on loan from NIU.

TOPICS

Featured speakers included Federico Sciammarella of Chicago, Russell Lankenau of DeKalb and Terry Jackson of Lombard.

Sciammarella, Ph.D Associate Professor and Interim Chair of Mechanical Engineering at NIU, detailed the wide scale application of Maker methodology and his own participation in America Makes, a public-private collective specializing in additive manufacturing and 3D printing.

In his capacity with America Makes, Sciammarella has made an effort to develop software and adapt 3D printing to a more industrial-oriented purpose. He said setting expectations in this field has become a priority.

“As this technology becomes more readily available, these standards are easier for us to follow,” Sciammarella said.

Lankenau, co-founder and president of the Workshop 88 makerspace, located in Glen Ellyn, detailed his own history and participation in the Maker community. He said his own title as a Maker is a classification he prefers to disavow, however.

“There’s an object expected there,” Lankenau said. “It’s the process I’m interested in, not the object. Take classes that might not contribute towards your degree, just try lots of stuff.Try something out of your comfort zone”

Lankenau is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at NIU.

Jackson, who said he has been a mechanical engineering enthusiast since he attended the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939 and saw robots for the first time, hit hard on bringing the goals of the Maker movement to children.

“I love the maker movement,” Jackson said. “I love the fact that it’s encouraging kids to be creative, to find creative careers, to bring more technology back to America.”

Jackson graduated from the University of Illinois in 1951 with an electrical engineering degree and has worked with various agencies in many capacities throughout his professional life. A recent project included collaboration with the Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre in 2016 to produce sound effect designs for various productions, garnering his team an award. 

Looking ahead

For those who are interested in attending further STEM Cafes, the next event, Combating the Opioid Epidemic, will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Giovanni’s Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Road in Rockford. The event concerns perspectives from medical, legal, public health, pharmaceutical, and rehabilitation professionals. This panel is sponsored by AARP and is free and open to the public. While reservations are encouraged, RSVPs can be directed to https://aarp.cvent.com/StemCafe or 1-877-926-8300.