Detroit Maker Faire: Celebrating Tinkerers, Inventors, and the Next Generation

President Obama is committed to ensuring that America stays competitive in the 21^st century global economy by having the most skilled and productive workforce in the world and by leading the world in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. As the President said at the launch of his Educate to Innovate campaign to improve STEM education, "I want us all to think about new and creative ways to engage young people in science and engineering, whether it's science festivals, robotics competitions, fairs that encourage young people to create and build and invent—to be makers of things, not just consumers of things."

That message is catching on. Earlier this year, at his second White House Science Fair, President Obama met Joey Hudy, a 14-year-old who developed the “extreme marshmallow cannon” capable of projecting a marshmallow 175 feet. Joey handed the president one of his business cards, which stated simply, “Don’t Be Bored, Make Something.”

In Dearborn, Michigan, part of metro Detroit, The Henry Ford, which presents the stories of American innovation, ingenuity, and resourcefulness—past, present, and future—will be hosting an event this weekend that epitomizes what not being bored and making something means—Maker Faire Detroit. This unique form of a science fair--a two-day celebration of curiosity, wonderment, inventiveness, and hands-on making--will include 450 makers from Michigan and around the United States immersed in projects in electronics, robotics, transportation, alternative energy, sustainable agriculture and other topics.  Maker Faires include activities like soldering a circuit board, pedaling a multi-person carrying cycle, or creating a musical instrument and invention from piles of parts that come with no assembly instructions.  Check out this video!

Maker Faire Detroit represents the innovative American spirit. As President Obama said while at The Henry Ford this past April, "Look around this museum and you're reminded about what made this country great—making things.”

If you can’t join in person, check it out on Facebook and stay up-to-date with the latest activities during the weekend at https://www.facebook.com/MakerFaireDetroit and https://www.facebook.com/thehenryford.  You can follow on Twitter as well, using hashtag #makerfairedetroit.

Don't be bored. To find a Maker Faire near you, or for info on how to get one started in your area, click here.