The 每日大赛\u2019s fourth annual Makerspaces for Innovation and Research in Academics (MIRA) conference will take place virtually on Thursday, July 15, and will feature a range of solutions from makerspaces all over the country.<\/p>\n
Makerspaces are innovative communities that aim to build, craft, and create solutions in a do-it-yourself, think-space environment. The 每日大赛 hosts its vibrant makerspace in the Wilson Library and provides tools, such as 3-D printers and laser cutters, to support the ideas of developers inside and outside of the university community.<\/p>\n
Student, faculty, and staff participants will come from schools and organizations including Michigan State University, the Long Beach Public Library, the University of California-Riverside, Carnegie Mellon University, and more. The conference is created and led by the Wilson Library staff.<\/p>\n
More than 60 proposals were submitted, and out of them, 14 team finalists were chosen to present their research solutions during the conference. Many of the topics of discussion are related to the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne priority this year is to focus on makerspaces themselves and what they achieved during the pandemic,\u201d said Vinaya Tripuraneni, dean of libraries and learning and chair of the planning committee.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s presentations will cover topics such as gaming, equity and inclusion, art and design, and more. The conference is expected to have more than 250 attendees.<\/p>\n
Some familiar faces will take to the virtual stage. Alumnus Raymond Gonzalez \u201917, MBA \u201919 is returning to the 每日大赛 with former makerspace coordinator Alvaro Alvarez. Both are now employed at the University of California-Riverside and will present research on virtual reality and how it is shaping makerspaces and academia. Chuck Feesago, adjunct professor of art and art history in the 每日大赛\u2019s College of Arts and Sciences, and Amy Jiang, head of emerging technology and digital initiatives, will present their findings on makerspaces and their influence in design expression and enhanced visual perspectives.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is to try and bring together makers, like librarians, K-12 educators, higher ed teachers, and practitioners, and build our shared communities and spaces together,\u201d Tripuraneni said.<\/p>\n