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Project Manus is MIT’s effort to upgrade campus makerspaces and foster student maker communities.

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Building 35-237
Cambridge, MA 02139

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(617) 258-7609

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Making at MIT

In a makersystem, local makerspaces network together to offer specialized capabilities to a larger community.

For Students

We are working hard to make sure MIT students have access to the tools, spaces and information they need to make, create and innovate.

Mobius

Mobius connects students, faculty and researchers with nearby resources they can use to make, measure and innovate.

Fall 2019 Newsletter

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Dear Colleagues and Friends of MIT Project Manus,

Great things are happening at Project Manus. We are excited to provide new updates on our ever-evolving mission to upgrade MIT campus makerspaces, improve maker training and foster maker communities through events and initiatives across MIT and around the world.


Maker Resources on Campus: Quick Links
Looking to make something/need help learning new maker skills?

MakerLodge: A first-year maker training program run for and by MIT students.

The Deep: An open-access makerspace optimizing hands-on trainings for all members of the MIT community.

Mobius: A Project Manus developed app that allows you to locate maker resources on campus and pay for materials.


Welcome to Building 6C: New Home for MakerLodge and more

This fall, MIT Project Manus is opening a new makerspace in Building 6C (6C-006B), called Metropolis. We are moving our MakerLodge program there, as well as some trainings and equipment from The Deep. A combined pool of Mentors will work in both Metropolis and The Deep as a unified volunteer mentor force to serve the needs of the entire MIT population. We’re excited to open a new space that will house the first-year program and are looking forward to the vibrant community that is sure to come from better integrating our first year students and the rest of MIT.


Accessibility in Makerspaces

Project Manus has been developing and implementing new ways to increase the accessibility of makerspaces to students with disabilities. We are actively thinking about best practices, and starting to implement the first round of solutions. So far, we have:

  • Rearranged our 3D printers to improve usability of all of our technologies
  • Modified a drill press for seated use
  • Begun the process of reprinting our instructional guides in larger font

If you have ideas or requests for improving the accessibility of our makerspaces, please e-mail robyneg@mit.edu!

Below, you can watch "Make Making Accessible", a film produced by Project Manus for ISAM 2019 (the International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces).


Industry Summit

The Make Impact Consortium — which brings together global universities, industry and government in a partnership to shape the future of the makerspace environment — recently hosted an Industry Summit in late September which included discussions around the formation of the industry advisory board, proposals for identifying entrepreneurial talent and interactions with university makerspace leaders to identify trends, needs, and key activities. The Summit also focused on the development of training in innovation and making skills, as well as discussions about product evaluation and testing programs for emerging technologies.

The event was a great opportunity for sharing information, developing contacts and relationships and discussing ways universities and companies can work more closely together. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact the team at makeimpact@mit.edu


Statistics on Impact of Project Manus on MIT

MakerLodge Statistics

Students who completed trainings:
Part A: 291
Part B: 240
Part C: 156

Total: ~327 training sessions

Bio-Making: 13 (two workshops)
Glassworking: 128

The Deep Statistics

Safety orientation: ~550 students/staff/faculty

Sign-ins to The Deep as of April 19th: 658

Machine Training Students in The Deep:

Welding: 78
Laser Cutting: 31
Machining: 51
Waterjet: 35
Mens&Manus Classes: 32


Getting to Know MIT Maker Resources: Martin Trust Center and Protoworks

The mission of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship is to advance knowledge and educate students in innovation-driven entrepreneurship in a manner that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

The focus of their education is MIT students to whom they provide proven frameworks, courses, co-curricular programs, state-of-the-art facilities, advisory services, and processes to create a rigorous, practical, customized, and integrated educational experience.

Martin Trust Sponsored Programs

ProtoWorks is a space at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship where students are able to explore and experiment on their entrepreneurial ideas through initial physical prototyping and making. ProtoWorks builds and supports community across MIT by bridging entrepreneurship and innovation, and accelerates learning via experimentation.

“Introduction to Making” (2.S973 / 15.351) is a highly-immersive, hands-on introductory course for undergraduate and graduate students in any course of study co-taught with MIT Project Manus. Students gain knowledge of common fabrication techniques and skill in using them:

  • Making things with hand tools
  • 3D printing
  • laser cutting
  • electronics
  • Arduino programming and more.

The MIT Delta V Accelerator is the capstone entrepreneurial experience for students at MIT to help students accelerate their growth in building viable, sustainable ventures. The MIT delta v accelerator takes place at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship on the MIT campus and the NYC Startup Studio in Manhattan for teams interested in being exposed to and taking advantage of that city’s entrepreneurial community. The programs are a capstone educational opportunity for MIT entrepreneurs before they launch into the real world. They take the best teams with an interesting idea or proof of concept and focus on creating impactful, innovation-driven startups.


New Project Manus Team Members

We have a new team member!

Paul Butler joins us as the Director of Business Partnerships. His background in technology startups and small companies has furnished him with a strong appreciation of the importance of creativity and entrepreneurship when coupled with the skills to execute on a design. Paul is responsible for engaging with our business partners, and comes to the Maker environment with a keen interest in woodworking and metalwork – largely fueled by the need to repair old houses, keep sailboats afloat, and ensure antique motorcycles and bicycles stay roadworthy.


A Thank You to Our Donors and Supporters

Thank you to the donors and supporters whose vision and commitment to our mission has allowed us to tackle key goals and objectives. We are grateful to all those who made gifts to MIT Project Manus, with a special shout-out to the Class of 1960 for their generous support through the Class of 1960 Endowment Fund for Innovation in Education (EFIE).


Have a great rest of your Fall. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

Follow us on social media for current updates on all our work: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

Happy making!

The Project Manus Team
project-manus.mit.edu


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