Another Million Reasons to Make

The future is – and always has been – invented by those who can make. Making is a foundational skill that all students must acquire. Both computer programming and making are experiential in nature and build key skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity and more. Vandana Sikka

Just one year ago, we announced the Infy Maker Awards, a program to motivate and inspire individuals in all 50 states to demonstrate creative excellence in making.

Over the course of three cycles, we received entries from individual makers and maker teams, with broad geographic range across the US---from 27 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Both children and adults alike embraced the Maker challenge to submit innovative ideas and prototypes “to solve real-world problems facing individuals, communities and our world. Of special note, 25% of the total entries were submitted by children makers, ages 9-17. The variety of projects was impressive: agriculture, education, environment, lifestyle, healthcare, safety, sanitation, and technology.

Makers were judged on a number of qualities including originality and innovative uses of technology. To date, the Foundation has awarded 35 winners cash prizes and also made select grants to build Maker Spaces at schools, libraries, and non-profit organizations. Below are some of the Infy Maker award-winning concepts:

• Durable water filters using static electric potentials, food-grade composite plastic film
• Low-cost universal data monitoring for vaccine transportation using Arduino and cell phone
• Mobile Makerspaces to inspire chronically ill patients in children’s hospitals to make
• Prosthetic leg coverings for amputees made in less than 24 hours using 3D printing
• Simple light system to visualize and compare real-time air quality data
• Infy Maker Award winners from 2016

As we celebrate Makers across America during the National Week of Making (June 17-23, 2016), the Foundation has announced its commitment of over $1M in the next 12 months to fund several new maker education initiatives:

• #WhyIMake campaign for makers to tell their own making stories and inspire others to share
• New funding to extend the Infy Maker Awards over the next 12 months
• Introduction of the Infy Maker Certified Educator program
• Funds to match crowdfunding of educator proposals for making
• Pilot maker program specifically benefiting students with disabilities

Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to seeing even more people join the Maker Movement and build a nation of Makers.