SparkFun Electronics to Sponsor 'Make a Makerspace' Event

Event will give attendees the tools and knowledge they need to start their own Makerspaces

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Jan 29, 2013, 09:34 ET

SOMERVILLE, Mass., Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com), a provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the "Make a Makerspace" event taking place February 1-3, 2013 in Somerville, Mass. In an ongoing effort to support the maker community, SparkFun engineers and members of its Department of Education (http://learn.sparkfun.com/) are helping lead the education track of the event.

The event, co-hosted by Artisan Asylum (http://www.artisansasylum.com) and Make (http://makezine.com), will include presentations and discussions about how to start a makerspace. The goal of this event is to give attendees a roadmap and the resources needed to start the process of creating sustainable makerspaces of their own, while also forming a support network for the long and arduous process of space development and creation.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to spend a weekend with passionate folks who are invested in creating more collaborative learning spaces around the country and world," said Lindsay Levkoff, SparkFun's director of education. "Artisan's Asylum was gracious enough to invite SparkFun to present on effective classrooms in makerspaces, and to teach an interactive, hands-on workshop to showcase how we teach our classes. There is great potential for these spaces to lead to amazing innovation both in education and industry - it's an exciting time to be involved with this group of inspiring people."

SparkFun will be moderating panels on various topics relating to creating a makerspace - including help from SparkFun engineers Mike Hord and Joel Bartlett, who are both founding members of hackerspaces. Levkoff will be giving a presentation on how to create effective classrooms in makerspaces, and Lindsay Craig, education outreach coordinator at SparkFun, will lead the group in teaching an "Intro to Arduino" hands-on workshop with the ProtoSnap LilyPad Development Board (http://learn.sparkfun.com/curriculum/5). For more information on the event, please visit (http://artisansasylum.com/?page_id=2555).

About SparkFun Electronics

Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects.

SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 135 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado.

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